Just as your home must stand up to the ravages of weather over time, so it is that your bones must accommodate the stressors and wear and tear factors in your life. It is simple math, do you have adequate rejuvenation to offset the demands and pressures you are under?

Central to this equation is a gene signal known as NF-kappaB, which is the basic intelligence within every cell of your body, including the various cells that make up your bones. NF-kappaB is your cellular problem solver, responsible for implementing instructions for your cells to deal with any kind of stress, including 911-type emergencies. This gene signal is especially important to the function of osteoclasts, and to the balance of power between osteoclasts and osteoblasts.

Bones are constantly remodeling themselves, a natural process for keeping up with wear and tear and ensuring ongoing adequate bone density and strength. This requires coordination between the demolition crew (osteoclasts) and the new construction crew (osteoblasts). Osteoclasts and osteoblasts are the carpenters of bone.

In healthy function, osteoclasts survey the existing bone looking for small micro-cracks (as induced from exercise). Once they find a crack or an area of old bone they clean it out by drilling a little hole through it, making room for new bone. Then osteoblasts come along and use raw materials (like calcium, hyaluronic acid, and protein) to fill in the hole with new bone mass, attaching new bone crystals into their proper place within the existing bone matrix.

This new science shows that macrophages (immune cells) and osteoclasts (the demo crew) come from the same parent cell within bone. Thus, as cells begin to take form from basic precursor cells there are options as to what they might become. As it turns out, NF-kappaB decides whether to make macrophages or osteoclasts. If the NF-kappaB switch is too active (too stressed out), then too many osteoclasts are made. If the NF-kappaB switch is able to maintain a more balanced and normal operation, then osteoclasts are produced at a more optimal level, likely in better balance with its companion, osteoblasts. This natural balance is fundamental to healthy bone mass, bone density, bone strength, and bone growth.

Your goal is to keep NF-kappaB happy. Many lifestyle factors assist this endeavor, including adequate sleep, refreshing exercise, a good diet, good overall stress management, and a lack of obvious abuse (smoking, drugs, too much alcohol, etc.).

The happy function of NF-kappaB requires "nutrient reserves" that enable it to function more efficiently even under stress. The types of nutrients needed are typically found in fresh fruit and vegetables, which is why diets high in these are proven to be good for your bones.*

The new science shows, based on animal and cell studies, that a number of nutrients help NF-kappaB relax, promoting healthy balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Nutrients that have already demonstrated this NF-kappaB modulating function relating to osteoclast formation and osteoclast function are boswella serrata, quercetin, curcumin, guggul, DHA, tocotrienols (special vitamin E), R-alpha lipoic acid, green tea catechins, zinc, and of course magnesium.*

The more stress and demands you are under, especially over an extended period of time, the more you want to be sure you don’t run low on nutrients that help NF-kappaB work properly. While this concept applies to many aspects of your health, it is particularly important to your bones. Since many of these nutrients also help other aspects of health, a bone support program can often assist multiple topics at once, which can help you decide which products are most likely to be of value for your specific priorities.*