Calcium and bone diseaseCalcium is a vital mineral; if Japanese people don’t eat cheese or drink milk, why do they not suffer more widely from bone disease?Where do they get their calcium? Firstly, there are many myths surrounding this topic, and most people have very little understanding of the real situation, according to recent research from various sources. Apparently the biggest myth is that you should drink milk and eat dairy produce to guard against bone disease; in fact the opposite may be true!! (see article by Dr. Sellmeyer below) The most common health problem linked with a lack of calcium is osteoporosis, a condition caused by calcium deficiency leading to loss of bone mass. This is one of the biggest killers and causes of health problems in our society. It affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 8 men over the age of 50 in the USA and a similar number in the UK. But this is only the result of a problem which starts at a much earlier age, as is often the case. Making sure you consume (and more importantly absorb) enough calcium and other minerals from an early age is the best way to avoid this problem. There are other factors, of course, such as smoking, alcohol and certain medications which can inhibit calcium absorption and reduce bone density. Calcium is also important in maintaining your body’s pH levels, promoting alkalinity, as many health problems are the result of a much too acid state arising from the typical Western diet, which can affect your immune system (among other things). Calcium also acts as an anti-oxidant, combatting free radicals that are implicated in diseases including cancer. In particular it is thought to be helpful in protecting aginst colon cancer. It is also important for the proper functioning of muscles, nerves and blood. So calcium is an essential mineral - but there is much more to it than that simple statement. For example, in order to benefit from calcium to build strong bones you also need other minerals, especially magnesium and boron, and vitamins D and K. Research has shown that ipriflavone - belonging to a group of compounds called bioflavonoids - protects bones by both inhibiting bone breakdown and by actually stimulating bone formation. Since this is present in soybean products such as tofu, this is one reason why a Japanese diet can help in this respect. (But not the only reason!) There are also different types of calcium, some of which are more difficult to absorb than others. Exercise is also important for building and maintaining strong bones. And there is the question of absorption or not, depending on the state and efficiency of your digestive system ... Sources of calcium Many green leafy vegetables, seaweed, beans (including soya), nuts and seeds provide an abundance of calcium; molasses is also an excellent source. See Robert Cohen’s article below for a detailed list. In Japan fish cakes are commonly eaten which are made from the whole fish - bones and all. They also eat whole, very small fish. The best source of all You may have heard recently about what is probably the best source of all: coral calcium, from the waters around the Japanese island of Okinawa. This island has Japan’s highest proportion of people aged 100-plus. In addition to their traditional Japanese diet, it is thought their remarkable longevity is aided by the water they drink, which has flowed through the fossilised coral. This ancient coral once grew below the water but is now above sea level, forming part of the land in the form of fossilised coral which is easy to harvest, does not damage the environment and is not contaminated by the heavy metals and chemicals which now often pollute the sea. As well as calcium, the coral contains other important minerals such as magnesium and potassium, in the right proportion. It seems it is also much more easliy absorbed than other forms of calcium supplement. According to a study in Japan, for example, levels of calcium in the blood of those taking coral calcium were twice as high as those taking an ordinary calcium supplement. For more details and a source of the highest quality coral calcium, click the link below and choose 'featured product' from the four squares on the left of this new window. coral calcium Articles on calcium Animal Protein Increases Bone Loss by Deborah Sellmeyer, M.D. A study published in the January, 2001 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the diets of 1,035 women, particularly focusing on the protein intake from animal and vegetable products. Deborah Sellmeyer, M.D., found: ANIMAL PROTEIN INCREASES BONE LOSS In her study, women with a high animal-to-vegetable protein ratio experienced an increased rate of femoral neck bone loss. A high animal-to-vegetable protein ratio was also associated with an increased risk of hip fracture. WHY DOES ANIMAL PROTEIN CAUSE BONE LOSS? Dr. Sellmeyer explains: "Sulphur-containing amino acids in protein-containing foods are metabolized to sulfuric acid. Animal foods provide predominantly acid precursors. Acidosis stimulates osteoclastic activity and inhibits osteoblast activity." MEAT EATERS HAVE MORE HIP FRACTURES Dr. Sellmeyer's remarkable publication reveals: "Women with high animal-to-vegetable protein ratios were heavier and had higher intake of total protein. These women had a significantly increased rate of bone loss than those who ate just vegetable protein. Women consuming higher rates of animal protein had higher rates of bone loss and hip fracture by a factor of four times." Milk has been called "liquid meat." The average American eats five ounces of animal protein each day in the form of red meat and chicken. At the same time, the average American consumes nearly six times that amount (29.2 ounces) per day of milk and dairy products. How ironic it is that the dairy industry continues to promote the cause of bone disease as the cure. Deborah Sellmeyer's brilliant work is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.
The above is taken from a report by Robert Cohen, director of the Dairy Education Board (http://www.notmilk.com) who is campaigning for the truth to be told about milk. Click here for his more detailed article about calcium and dairy produce (will open in a new window): You can search for more information on this topic using the Google search box below
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