How To Prevent And Beat Osteoporosis – Not With Milk?

Osteoporosis is the condition marked by frail, weak bones that have lost their density over time. But, time is not the only enemy. Osteoporosis can be accelerated by a poor diet, too, specifically, a diet lacking calcium, Vitamin D (for calcium absorption) and protein.

Now, milk has all 3 – and our bones need them to grow strong and defend against becoming brittle and breaking. The dairy product pushers know this and they capitalize on it every chance they get.

You may have even seen the television ad where Susan Sarandon glides through her rustic living room. Glass of milk in one hand as she picks up a skateboard left in the middle of the floor with the other…all the while talking about nutrient deficiency and how to “close the gap” with milk.  In the background, a light, airy, quasi-classical piece plays softly as if to offer a comforting, home-style feeling of safety that erases all mistrust in advertising.

Then she tells us that in addition to vitamin D and calcium, milk also has potassium and protein. And she’d be right.

So, what’s the problem?

Before that, she says eating may not be enough. There she’d be wrong. Good thing she said “may.”

Fact is, you should be able to get all the nutrients you need to beat osteoporosis by eating a balanced, healthy diet.

Doesn’t Milk Already Do That?

Theoretically, it should. But, as you know, theories don’t always pan out in the real world.

You see, milk certainly contains the essential nutrients bones need – that’s the good news. The bad news is those nutrients come from an animal. And the protein found in animal foodstuffs can cause you to lose calcium.

This means the amount of calcium you need in your diet is completely enslaved to the amount of meat and dairy you consume.

And here’s the kicker…because of our high-animal protein diets, Americans may not be able to take in enough calcium to replenish what’s lost by our catch-22 eating habits. Result? We’re up there at the top of the world-wide Osteoporosis List but…

Protein Is Protein – Isn’t It?

No. It isn’t.

Animal protein is a Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) protein and our bodies are designed to defend against it. Why? Because this acid must be neutralized before it gets to the kidneys – and our bodies consider the kidneys mandatory for survival, even before bones. Where do you think the most easily obtained source of this acid neutralizer is located? If you said, “the bones” you were right!

So, it literally milks your bones dry!

If that weren’t bad enough…

Homogenized Milk Is A Chemically Altered Drink

The process of homogenization alters the chemical make-up of the milk we drink. This process increases the acidity of a beverage already high in acid content. Plus, pasteurization and homogenization create a laundry list of health and digestion problems for the drinker. It gets worse…

Today, cows are genetically engineered to produce more and more milk each time they’re pumped. They’re given a man-made Bovine Growth Hormone called rBGH which artificially increases the cow’s ability to produce milk. So what? So, rBGH has a nasty side effect in humans. It’s been linked to an increase in blood levels of Insulin Growth Factor-1, which is linked to several different types of cancers.

Over time, as the body fights itself trying to make sense of all this protein/calcium conflict of interest business, nothing suffers more than our weak bones. They’re the platoon that chalks up the most casualties. Continuing on with this type of diet can only lead to hip replacements, a cracked rib when reaching for a coffee mug, or possibly a shattered wrist or pelvis simply by moving a light piece of furniture or being involved in a fender-bender. Plus, osteoporosis is known as one of the Silent Diseases – because it consumes you slowly and without warning. You won’t even know it’s there — until you fracture your first femur.

Author’s Note: I know a nice cold glass of milk is the perfect companion to most deserts, that a nice warm glass of milk is a great substitute for sheep when it’s time to fall into the arms of Hypnos. Plus, it’s a fact that cows have some of the strongest bones in the Animal Kingdom, too. So, if you MUST drink milk, make it raw. Raw milk (not pasteurized or homogenized) is less acidic than it’s chemically altered counterpart. But, be careful – it still must be filtered and immediately cooled to about 36-38 degrees. Please make sure it’s organic, coming only from grass-fed cows, OK?

For the Naysayers

“Pish-posh,” you say…”Osteoporosis is only for older folks.”  Think again.

This should be an unusual story, but it’s not. Meet, let’s-call-her, “Stephanie…”

Stephanie was diagnosed with osteoporosis at the ripe old age of 27, after enduring some painful compression fractures.  Before her condition forced her to stop working, she was a health-care professional.

Because she didn’t want to live her life in fear – bending wrong, or perhaps coughing and breaking another bone, Stephanie took steps to prevent further bone density loss and even rebuild the tissue that disappeared.

Today – 12 years later – she’s recovering – eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, and feeling stronger every day. She still has to think about her actions and the effect they have on her bones but she no longer lives in fear and has begun enjoying life again.

Osteoporosis – It’s Not Just For The Older Folks Anymore

Nor is osteoporosis just for women. In fact, it quietly affects 28 million Americans today and that figure represents an 80/20 split between women and men, respectively. If the appropriate, preventable opportunities to stop and beat this disease are not taken, that number is predicted to jump to 41 million affected skeletons by 2015. That’s a 46% increase in just 4 years.!

We know dairy products are not preventable opportunities – so, what are?

Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can take control of your bone density and let your body do the work to rebuild it. All you have to do is