Osteoporosis is a condition usually associated with ageing in which bone density decreases, making the ageing population more susceptible to breaks and fractures.

Cornell University Research

Researchers from Cornell University have found that reducing the amount of meat in the diet may do more to reduce the risk of osteoporosis than increasing calcium intake. A series of studies conclude that reducing meat intake reduces the risk of losing bone density.

Dairy products and Osteoporosis

Researchers are still unsure whether dairy products help protect against osteoporosis. In a diet high in animal protein, any potential benefits for bone density may be lost. According to Professor Campbell, a nutritional biochemist at Cornell and Director of the Cornell-China-Oxford Project, animal protein from dairy may draw more calcium from the bones than the body absorbs, weakening rather than strengthening them.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease that leads to fractures and affects 25 million Americans, 80 percent of whom are women.

A study examining the role of dietary calcium in bone density followed 800 women from five regions in China, each with distinctly different diets. Researchers tracked their food intake over three days, measured bone density, and analysed calcium absorption and excretion through blood and urine tests.

Factors such as height, weight, and age were also considered to understand the impact of diet on bone health.

Meat Proteins v Vegetable Proteins

Analyses of these data suggest that increased levels of animal-based proteins, including protein from dairy products, almost certainly contribute to a significant loss of bone calcium while vegetable-based diets clearly protect against bone loss.

This view is consistent with evidence comparing bone fracture rates among different countries, which shows that countries having the highest calcium intakes also have the highest fracture rates. It is also consistent with other studies on nutritionally rich 'Western' diets showing that low-calcium, vegetarian diets are associated with increased bone density.

Meat based diets tend to be high in fat and low in fibre whereas plant-based diets are generally low in fat and high in fibre and other substances such as antioxidants, which are proving to be important in preventing cancer.

Calcium Balance

Although dietary calcium intake is most often the focus of nutritional recommendations for osteoporosis, what's important is the calcium balance, not just calcium intake. This is another case in which just looking at a single nutrient does not tell the whole story, but you have to consider the whole diet.

Conclusion

Calcium is an important element of reversing osteoporosis and we get that from dairy products, we also know that having too much depletes calcium. Calcium gives strength to the bones.

Eating foods rich in calcium like low fat yoghurt, non-fat milk, cauliflower, broccoli, sesame seeds, salmon, leafy green vegetables and almonds are all good foods full of calcium. Other foods include, lentils, grains, nuts, kidney beans and soy products. Protein helps keep muscles healthy and support the bones. It is also a good idea to cut back on alcohol, soft drinks and caffeine. All of those interfere with how the body absorbs calcium. (Source: news.cornell.edu)