In Part 2 of this important two-part conversation, Debi Robinson continues her discussion with Dr. Nick Birch, a former spinal surgeon who began questioning conventional bone density testing after decades of surgical experience.

While Part 1 explored the limitations of DEXA scans and the difference between bone density and bone strength, this episode goes deeper into the broader implications: informed consent, the blind spots of specialty medicine, polypharmacy, and why bone health must be viewed through a whole-body lens.

Dr. Birch explains how REMS technology evaluates bone fragility and toughness — not just density — and why women deserve access to better information when making decisions about their bone health.

This episode is about empowerment through education.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why bone density and bone strength are not the same
• How REMS measures fragility and bone toughness
• The limitations of the traditional “T-score model”
• What medical “blinkers” are — and how they affect care
• The risks of polypharmacy in aging women
• How medications can unintentionally impact bone health
• Why informed consent must include lifestyle options
• Why bone health reflects overall metabolic, hormonal, and digestive health
  
  

Action Steps You Can Take Today

1. Look beyond your T-score and ask about fracture risk.
2. Ask your provider about all options, including lifestyle interventions.
3. Evaluate medication interactions if you are on multiple prescriptions.
4. Support digestion and gut health to improve nutrient absorption.
5. Address inflammation and stress, which directly impact bone remodeling.
6. Think holistically — bone health is whole-body health.
   
   

Resources & Links

• Debi's website: https://debirobinson.com
• Learn more about REMS (Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry) technology (as discussed in the episode): https://www.osteoscanuk.com/about-us
• Healthy Gut Healty Bones Program: https://debirobinsonwellness.thrivecart.com/hghb-self-paced-group-program-pp/
• Join the Community: https://debirobinson.com/the-stronger-bones-lifestyle-community/
• Yoga Therapy MasterClass: https://debirobinson.com/yoga-therapy-for-bones-health-mc/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debirobinsonwellness/
• Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@debirobinsonwellness/

Debi’s Takeaway

You are not your T-score.

You are not a prescription.

You are not a number on a scan.

Bone health is influenced by hormones, digestion, stress, inflammation, movement, and metabolic balance. When we expand the conversation beyond density alone, we give women the information they need to make empowered decisions.

Information replaces fear.

Understanding builds confidence.

And empowered women build stronger bones.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Debi Robinson sits down with Dr. Nick Birch, a former spinal surgeon from the UK who began questioning conventional bone assessment tools after years of surgical experience.

Dr. Birch shares how DEXA scans often indicated “good bone density,” yet during surgery he encountered bone that was structurally weak and unable to securely hold surgical hardware. This clinical disconnect led him to question whether bone density alone truly reflects fracture risk.

This episode explores the limitations of the T-score model, how DEXA became the dominant screening tool in the 1990s, and why bone strength — not just density — should be the primary focus when assessing fracture risk.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why bone density does not equal bone strength
• How DEXA scans became the gold standard in the 1990s
• The limitations of T-scores in predicting fracture risk
• Why nearly half of fragility fractures occur in women without osteoporosis
• How surgical experience challenged conventional assumptions
• What REMS technology is and how it differs from DEXA
• Why fracture risk should be the real measurement goal
  
  

Action Steps You Can Take Today

1. Reframe your T-score as one piece of information — not a diagnosis of destiny.
2. Focus on fracture prevention, not just density numbers.
3. Support bone strength through movement, balance, and alignment.
4. Reduce inflammation to improve bone remodeling.
5. Ask informed questions about how your bone health is being assessed.
6. Stay curious about emerging technologies like REMS.
   
   

Resources & Links

• Debi's website: https://debirobinson.com
• Healthy Gut Healty Bones Program: https://debirobinsonwellness.thrivecart.com/hghb-self-paced-group-program-pp/
• Join the Community: https://debirobinson.com/the-stronger-bones-lifestyle-community/
• Yoga Therapy MasterClass: https://debirobinson.com/yoga-therapy-for-bones-health-mc/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debirobinsonwellness/
• Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@debirobinsonwellness/
• Stronger Bones Lifestyle Podcast: https://debirobinson.com/podcast
  
  
• Learn more about REMS (Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry) technology (as discussed in the episode): https://www.osteoscanuk.com/about-us
  
  
  

Debi’s Takeaway

Bone health is not just about density — it’s about strength, structure, and resilience. When we shift the focus from numbers to function, the entire conversation changes.

Your bones are living tissue.

They deserve better measurement.

And you deserve better information.

In this episode, Debi Robinson welcomes Chris Burres, a scientist and longevity researcher, for a fascinating conversation about mitochondrial health and why it plays such a critical role in aging, energy, balance, and bone health.

While mitochondria are often described as “the powerhouse of the cell,” this episode explores what that really means as we age. Chris explains how oxidative stress and chronic inflammation damage mitochondria over time, accelerating aging and contributing to issues like muscle weakness, poor recovery, balance problems, and bone loss.

This conversation connects the dots between cellular health and functional aging, reinforcing a core message of the Stronger Bones Lifestyle: bone loss does not happen in isolation — it reflects what’s happening throughout the body at the cellular level.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What mitochondria actually do in the body
• How oxidative stress accelerates aging
• Why inflammation impacts energy, muscles, and bones
• The connection between mitochondrial health and balance
• How cellular stress contributes to bone loss
• Why recovery and resilience decline with age
• What longevity research teaches us about healthy aging
  
  

Action Steps You Can Take Today

1. Reduce oxidative stress by prioritizing sleep and recovery.
2. Support inflammation balance through anti-inflammatory foods.
3. Move consistently, not excessively, to support mitochondrial function.
4. Manage stress intentionally, as chronic stress damages cellular health.
5. Focus on balance and coordination, not just strength.
6. Think cellular first when addressing bone health concerns.
   
   

Resources & Links

• Visit Chris's page and receive $30 off any product: https://www.myvitalc.com/strongerbones
• Stronger Bones Lifestyle resources:
  https://debirobinson.com
• Learn more about Chris Burres and longevity research (as discussed in the episode): https://www.sesres.com/author/chrisburres/

Debi’s Takeaway

Healthy aging starts at the cellular level. When mitochondria are supported and oxidative stress is reduced, the body becomes more resilient — muscles recover better, balance improves, inflammation quiets, and bones are better protected.

Bone health isn’t just about density. It’s about energy, coordination, and cellular integrity — and mitochondria are at the center of it all.