Protein and Calcium
The reason so many, including many SDAs eat meat and drink milk is that so they can get an adequate amount of protein and calcium in their diets. Medical research is showing that this approach is misguided at best. And this information has been around for some time. Indeed, the high-protein American diet has been found to cause osteoporosis (bone loss), and other problems. Consider the following:
* "Even when eating 1,400 mg of calcium daily, one can lose up to 4% of his or her bone mass each year while consuming a high-protein diet." --American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1979; 32.
* "Increasing one's protein intake by 100% may cause calcium loss to double." --Journal of Nutrition, 1981; 32.
* "What appears to be important in bone metabolism is not calcium intake, but calcium balance. The loss of bone integrity among many post menopausal white women probably results from genetics and from diet and lifestyle factors. Research shows that calcium losses are increased by the use of animal protein, salt, caffeine, tobacco, and by physical inactivity." --Neal Barnard, MD, Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine, in Understanding Health, December 1999.
* Bogert, Briggs and Calloway, writing in Nutrition and Physical Fitness, explain that when too much meat and other high protein foods are eaten, sulfuric, phosphoric and other acids are produced. The body seeks to neutralize these excess acids by drawing on the alkali reserves--calcium and other alkaline or base-forming elements of the body. These also include magnesium, zinc, boron and other minerals involved in the health of the bones and teeth.
* The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 1983 reported the results of the largest study of bone density in the U.S. Researchers at Michigan State and other major universities found that by age 65:
Male vegetarians had an average measurable bone loss of 3%.
Male meat-eaters had an average measurable bone loss of 7%.
Female vegetarians had an average measurable bone loss of 18%.
Female meat-eaters had an average measurable bone loss of 35%.
* A correct vegetarian diet whith emphasis on adequate calcium and other minerals is most important in guarding against osteoporosis. Researchers using double isotope analysis demonstrated that calcium availability in kale and select green vegetables are the number one natural source of top-grade calcium. Other plant sources include fortified soy milk, broccoli, dried figs, almonds, whole grains, whole legumes, blackstrap molasses, and seeds and nuts.
Other critical nutrients that build and preserve bone health include magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, zinc, manganese, boron, copper and vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin). Vitamins C, E, and K also play vital roles in battling osteopososis Calcium retention in the bones is also favored by adequate weight-bearing exercise such as brisk walking, etc.
Suzanne