How to Reverse Osteoporosis Naturally | My Results

How to Reverse Osteoporosis Naturally | My Results

My Bone-Building Protocol, 18 Months In

I have some exciting news to share!

This is an update to my osteoporosis article from September 2025, where I explained the protocol I have been using to treat my osteoporosis, diagnosed in October 2024.

In this article, I will share how I was able to reverse osteoporosis naturally, improve my bone mineral density, and significantly increase my DEXA scan scores in just 18 months—without pharmaceutical drugs.

My Osteoporosis Journey: What Led to Severe Bone Loss

It was the perfect storm.

A hysterectomy at age 31 (which included both ovaries due to PCOS), followed by a pituitary tumor that has been wreaking endocrine havoc on me for decades.

The pituitary is the master commander of all hormones in the body. Pituitary tumors cause all sorts of hormone irregularities—and bone metabolism is hormonally regulated. Osteoporosis is quite common among those with pituitary tumors such as mine.

In October 2024, I was told by more than one “medical expert” that my osteoporosis had progressed too rapidly to be addressed through natural means, and that it would be foolish not to pursue pharmacologic treatment.

I had some major decisions to make.

Why I Chose a Natural Approach

I was not convinced I needed drugs to turn this around. I had seen enough evidence to believe that it IS possible to improve bone density naturally—not easy, but possible.

So, I put together the protocol that I wrote about in my 2025 article (my foundational guide on how to reverse osteoporosis naturally), which I have been diligently implementing for 18 months. I won’t lie—it’s taken a lot of energy and determination. Some days, just about every ounce of energy I can muster.

Fast forward to March 2026…

I had a follow-up DEXA scan, which measures bone mineral density (BMD), to see how my bones were faring.

I was both excited—and terrified.

My DEXA Scan Results: 18 Months Later

My numbers were nothing short of a miracle. I “anti-aged” my bones—without pharmaceutical drugs!

Improvement in All 3 Areas

🦴 Lumbar Spine: In 18 months, I gained nearly 11% BMD—moving from osteoporosis to osteopenia.

🦴 Right Hip: I gained more than 13% BMD—moving from osteopenia to normal bone density.

🦴 Left Hip: I gained nearly 9% BMD overall. While the femoral neck BMD did not increase, this area has structural damage from a past injury and surgery that may affect scan accuracy. Even so, my left hip became significantly stronger overall.

Putting This In Perspective

What makes these results so remarkable is what I had been told by the so-called osteoporosis experts, that the best I could hope for with “diet and lifestyle changes” was to slow bone loss—not rebuild bone.

 

Can You Reverse Osteoporosis Without Drugs?

Based on my experience, the answer is an enthusiastic yes!

I am not suggesting that this will be the case for everyone. We are all unique in our physiology, history, and contributing factors. But if it can work for me—with several factors stacked against me—then there is a strong possibility it can help many others increase their bone mineral density naturally.

Natural vs. Pharmaceutical Treatment: How My Results Compare

There are two main categories of pharmaceutical drugs prescribed for osteoporosis:

1. Antiresorptives (Fosamax, Prolia): slow bone breakdown
2. Anabolic agents (Evenity, Forteo): stimulate new bone formation

Typical results:

Antiresorptives: ~4–8% spinal BMD increase over 1–3 years

Anabolics: ~10–15% increase over 1–3 years; these drugs often come with limitations, risks, and time restrictions

The Bottom Line? My natural protocol produced gains comparable to the strongest osteoporosis pharmaceuticals - the anabolics - but without the associated risks. This natural approach has benefits that extend far beyond bone health - mood, hormone balance, cognitive function, longevity, and overall wellness.

My Bone-Building Protocol (What Actually Worked)

👉🏽 Nutrition for Bone Health

A diet rich in calcium and trace minerals, focused on clean, organic whole foods and adequate protein intake.

👉🏽 Targeted Supplements for Bone Growth

A comprehensive supplement regimen including:

• Minerals
• Vitamins D3, K2, C, E, and B complex
• Probiotics
• Antioxidants
• Omega-3 fats

When it comes to bone strength, the specific  form of vitamin E matters. Scientific research shows that annatto tocotrienols support the formation of new bone.

👉🏽 Sunlight and Vitamin D Optimization

Regular sun exposure (seasonally, where possible) to support natural vitamin D production.

👉🏽 Grounding and EMF Reduction

Daily grounding and minimizing EMF exposure as much as possible. Check out my awesome new grounding Huaraches from Earthing Harmony!

👉🏽 Herbal Infusions for Bone Support

A daily mineral-rich herbal infusion that I use as a base for oatmeal, smoothies, soup and other things. (Refer to my prior article for the recipe.) Always use organic herbs—this is a concentrated preparation so purity matters. A great source for organic bulk herbs is Mountain Rose Herbs.

👉🏽 Strength Training: The LIFTMOR Approach

Heavy resistance training twice weekly, based on the LIFTMOR protocol. This is the ONLY form of exercise scientifically proven to increase bone density, versus just maintaining it. (Refer to my prior article)

👉🏽 Hormone Optimization (BHRT)

BHRT (Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy) from a qualified practitioner; hormones play a critical role in bone metabolism.

👉🏽 Mental, Emotional & Spiritual Health

Daily practices to reduce stress and support mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being—essential but often overlooked:

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Attitude of Gratitude
• Spiritual practice

Key Takeaways: What Helped Me Reverse Bone Loss

✅ Consistency over time—bone remodeling is slow; most meaningful improvements take at least 12–24 months

✅ Addressing root causes such as hormone imbalance, nutritional deficiencies, lack of activity, and other health and lifestyle factors

✅ Combining multiple strategies

✅ A holistic approach—not just the bones

✅ Garbage in equals garbage out—upgrading the quality of my food, supplements, and choices about everything, including how I spend my time

✅ Working with a knowledgeable team has made all the difference (in my case, a functional medicine physician and a skilled physical therapist)

Do You Need Osteoporosis Medication?

I do believe there are certain situations where drug therapy might be the best option.

Below is an excellent presentation by Dr. Keith McCormick who has some personal experience with osteoporosis. If you are considering drug therapy and weighing its risks and benefits, this is a good interview to watch.

He believes in using medications as a “short-term bridge,” while focusing on longer-term improvements through integrative practices.

Bone Turnover Markers: Monitor Your Progress Between DEXA Scans

The medical scan that’s been the industry standard for evaluating bone health is the DEXA scan (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry). DEXA is a quick, painless and relatively low-dose x-ray that measures bone mineral density (BMD), usually focusing on the hips and spine.

DEXA measures bone density but not bone quality. The two are related but not synonymous - you need bone quality as well as density to avoid fractures. It’s important to remember that DEXA can give you some information - it’s just not complete information.  

Insurance will generally only pay for a DEXA once every two years. That’s a long time to go without objective information about whether your bone treatments are working - be they natural or pharmaceutical.

The good news is, there are a couple of markers in the blood that can tell you directly what’s going on in your bones, available from a simple blood test.

The two main bone turnover biomarkers are:

1. CTX: A bone resorption marker that measures how much bone collagen is in your blood. The higher the level, the more bone breakdown is occurring by the osteoclasts. (C-terminal cross-linking telopeptides of type 1 collagen)
2. P1NP: A bone formation marker that measures the bone-building activity of the osteoblasts. (Procollagen type 1 N-terminal Propeptide)

Unfortunately, most physicians are not familiar with bone turnover biomarkers.

For those of us who are actively treating osteopenia or osteoporosis, we can measure these two markers regularly - every 3, 6 or 12 months - to help evaluate the effectiveness of our treatments. When we actually know what is working or not working, we can course-correct.

This is especially critical if you are on pharmaceutical drugs.

Why wait two years to find out that a drug is not effective when you could have that information in 3 months - then have the opportunity to change treatments rather than wasting all that time. It just makes sense. These should be mandatory for anyone on osteoporosis drugs!

Your blood needs to be drawn first thing in the morning after a 12-hour fast. If you’ve had a fracture, these markers can be elevated for anywhere from 4 to 12 months, so you might want to wait if you’ve broken a bone recently.

The tests are not covered by insurance. The best price I have found is through Fullscript, between $200 and $250 for the pair.

If you’re interested in having this done, contact me and I can submit an order for you. Once ordered, you would purchase the test on Fullscript then have your blood drawn at a Quest Diagnostics lab in your area.

There are other lab values that impact bone, but they are usually monitored by your primary care provider, such as thyroid and vitamin D. Those can be ordered through Fullscript as well, but not if you want your insurance to cover it. Having your vitamin D level optimized is very important when it comes to bones. A quick vitamin D3 level can be added in Fullscript for around $25.

Final Thoughts

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. If you’re on this journey, don’t give up! Know that improvement is possible.

The body is far more capable of healing itself than we’ve been led to believe. There is a good chance you can stall or even reverse osteoporosis—without medication. If you give the body what it needs, it can manifest miracles.

I am living proof!