But Aren't You Worried About Osteoporosis???

(And protein deficiency and B12 deficiency...Frankly, I'd worry more about diabetes and heart disease, but I don't now.)  So am I worried about osteoporosis?

In a word, no.  Dairy and meat products can actually cause osteoporosis.  As the body discards excess animal protein, it leaches calcium from a person's bones in order to balance the body's pH levels.  There's your cause for osteoporosis.  But there's even more to it than that.

Americans have long been told that the best way to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis later in life is by consuming large amounts of calcium, whether in the form of supplements or via dairy products. In fact, the Recommended Daily Intake of calcium in the United States is 1000 or more milligrams for adults, depending on age and gender. To get this much calcium from one's diet, a person would have to drink at least three to four cups of milk a day or eat at least five ounces of cheese. Still, vegans don't necessarily need to stress out about osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is caused by a loss of bone density that usually occurs later in life.  Bone loss is often caused by ingesting animal protein (both meat and dairy products). So many Americans think that they should get their calcium in other ways, but further studies have shown that calcium supplements aren't helpful at all and may, in fact, be harmful, potentially causing heart problems. Elderly people who have suffered bone fractures are also not helped by supplements.

So how can vegans get calcium? There are plenty of plant foods that provide calcium (such as broccoli, soybeans, peas, and spinach). However, vegans need to know that calcium by itself isn't necessarily helpful. Calcium is best absorbed with magnesium. Fortunately, the same vegetables that have calcium also have plenty of magnesium. But calcium is only part of the bone health equation.

Exercise is also an important part of maintaining healthy bones. Weight training is one of the best ways people can increase bone density. While exercise in general is good, weight-bearing exercise is vital in building bone mass and increasing bone density.

So while vegans aren't necessarily immune to osteoporosis, they needn't worry as long as they eat a healthy diet consisting of plenty of vegetables (too much bread or pasta won't help!) and exercise in ways that increase bone density.

I did worry about osteoporosis when I first became a vegetarian until I started researching.  Look up the rates for countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis and then look at their main diet.  What do they eat and drink a lot of?  Then look at countries with the lowest rates and examine their diets as well. Makes you wonder why we're continually told that "milk does a body good."  I bet it would do the calf's body good, but not mine!