Rethinking Osteoporosis and Bone Health with Dr. Susan Brown: What Your DEXA Scan Isn’t Telling You

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr. Susan Brown, medical anthropologist, clinical nutritionist, and founder of Better Bones, to unravel the truth behind modern osteoporosis care. We explore how the DEXA scan became the gold standard—despite its limitations—and why so many women are being mislabeled as “high risk” when the full picture of bone strength has never been evaluated.

Dr. Brown brings a rare combination of science, global anthropology, and decades of clinical research to explain why bone density is not the only indicator of fracture risk, why stress is one of the biggest bone disruptors, and how minerals, digestion, muscle strength, and lifestyle patterns create a much more accurate blueprint of true bone health.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, confused, or frightened by a diagnosis, this episode will help you breathe again—and understand your bones in an entirely new way.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why DEXA scans are often misleading, especially for petite women
• The history of osteoporosis and how its definition was created
• The 20 essential nutrients your bones require daily
• Why chronic stress and cortisol silently dissolve bone
• How muscle strength reflects bone strength
• The surprising accuracy of ancient healing systems like Ayurveda
• Why heavy lifting is not the only path to stronger bones
• How digestion, mineral balance, and oxidative stress influence bone remodeling
• How to build confidence and reduce fear after an osteoporosis diagnosis
  
  

Action Steps You Can Take Today

1. Reduce stress daily through breathing, meditation, nature walks, or grounding
2. Support digestion to improve nutrient absorption
3. Add bone-supportive nutrients, including magnesium, vitamin K2, trace minerals, and potassium-rich foods
4. Build muscle gradually using movements that feel safe and functional
5. Shift toward alkaline-leaning eating patterns with more fruits and vegetables
6. Get your Vitamin D and hormone levels checked
7. Learn the “witness practice” to observe thoughts instead of internalizing fear
8. Explore your medical osteoporosis workup to uncover underlying causes
   
   

Resources & Links

• Better Bones Website: https://betterbones.com
• Healthy Gut, Healthy Bones Program
• Stronger Bones Lifestyle Programs & Resources
  
  

Debi’s Takeaway

You are so much more than a T-score. Your bones are alive, responsive, adaptable, and deeply influenced by how you eat, move, think, and live. Don’t let fear of a diagnosis shape the rest of your life. When you nourish your body, calm your nervous system, and support your digestion and mineral balance, your bones can—and will—respond. Healing is possible.