Why Do Some People Think That Milk Causes Osteoporosis?
If the lack of calcium is one of the biggest factors in a person developing Osteoporosis why would anyone think that milk, which is loaded with calcium, would cause a person to develop Osteoporosis? You must admit, it does sound a bit like an oxymoron. The truth is that some recent studies are pointing in that very direction.
In a set of studies done in Hong Kong it was revealed that it may be quite possible that some sources of calcium may not be as beneficial as they were once thought to be.
The studies were done on a population that didn’t have a high-calcium consumption to begin with due to a lack of calcium-rich foods not being a part of their average diet. The studies found that calcium consumption during a child’s second year of development had the most significant impact on bone density while by the age of five calcium didn’t seem to impact bone density at all. It further showed that girls in their early teens, though they had the highest levels of calcium consumption, had low bone density in their upper extremities. Not convinced?
Research conducted on 78,000 nurses revealed that the women who drank more than a single glass of milk per day had a 45% increase in the risk of having a hip fracture than women who didn’t.
It appears that women in the United States actually have the highest risk of developing Osteoporosis when compared to women in other parts of the world. One astonishing example of this is the finding that women in Japan, who have had an almost non-existent calcium-rich diet, are now showing increased rates of Osteoporosis as their access to a calcium-rich diet has grown. China is another country where dairy products are not a part of the everyday diet of Chinese people, and yet the development of Osteoporosis is still a very uncommon occurrence.
So where does all this information leave someone? Well, it’s a personal choice. The studies seem to indicate that dairy products aren’t as good for your bones as you may think they are. However, there are other vitamins and nutrients found in milk that are beneficial to overall good health so before you lock the cow in the barn you’ve got to weigh all the factors.
If you should decide to eliminate calcium from your diet, be sure to find other sources of food or supplements that will provide you with the additional benefits of milk aside from calcium.
If you’re confused by these findings you’re definitely not alone. In a culture that at one time stressed the importance of calcium intake at every turn, it’s hard to change. For safety sakes always consult your doctor or nutritionist when you make a big change in your diet such as eliminating dairy products. You certainly don’t have to ask for their permission, but it’s a good idea to keep them informed.
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