Guest guest Posted November 7, 2003 Report Share Posted November 7, 2003 In a message dated 11/6/2003 12:00:30 PM Central Standard Time, nonHSI@... writes: > > Good to the Bone > > Health Sciences Institute e-Alert > > November 6, 2003 > > ************************************************************** > > Dear Reader, > > Most of us (especially women) have a tendency to lose bone mass > density (BMD) as we age. And the results can be disastrous for > the elderly who often find their mobility compromised due to > fractures of weakened bones. > > One way to help keep bones healthy, of course, is to avoid > factors that can undermine BMD long before we reach our later > years. But contrary to a long-held, popular misconception, > protein is NOT one of those undermining factors. > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > Eskimo pie > -------------------------------------------------------------- > > The idea that protein intake reduces BMD probably stems mostly > from the fact that increased protein prompts the body to > discharge calcium into the urine. Based on this, many have > jumped to the conclusion that protein must have a negative > effect on BMD. > > The confusion over the protein/BMD question is reflected in this > question posted by a member named Iris on the HSI Forum: " Does > anyone have any information on studies or recommendations that > connect high-protein diets and bone loss? " > > Responding to Iris' question, a member named Omie posted this > comment: " Consider the Eskimo that doesn't have a garden or > veggies, exhumed bones from those people that died before > learning of the 'white man's diet' had been on a meat and fat > diet all their lives and their bones were excellent. " > > My guess is that Omie has read about the groundbreaking research > of Dr. Weston Price. A 19th Century pioneer of nutrition, Dr. > Price found that groups that consumed high protein diets (such > as Alaskan Eskimos) had little tooth decay and were mostly free > of degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis. But when Dr. > Price examined the remains of Native American tribes that were > largely vegetarian, he discovered skeletons with a high > incidence of osteoporosis. > > This relationship of high protein intake and strong bones has > been reinforced by many studies, and most recently by research > from Creighton University School of Medicine (CU) published > earlier this year. > > The CU team followed dietary protein and calcium intake and the > rate of bone loss in almost 500 postmenopausal women over a > period of three years. Results showed that subjects with the > highest protein intake had a significantly higher BMD compared > with women who had the lowest protein intake. This positive > association was especially strong among the women who also had a > dietary calcium intake of more than 408 mg per day. > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > The calcium thief > -------------------------------------------------------------- > > So protein is not the culprit that many have believed it to be. > But there is another factor that has been associated with > calcium loss and bone fractures: synthetic drug use. > > In a study reported earlier this year in the Archives of > Internal Medicine, elderly women who took antidepressants and > other drugs were 70 percent more likely to break a hip than > those who didn't take such drugs. Exactly why this was so was > not clear, but the association was strong among a group of more > than 8,000 women, even after variables were accounted for, such > as unsteadiness caused by medications. > > And in a Clinical Geriatric Medicine study referenced on the > Atkins web site, many subjects who consumed a " normal " amount of > calcium (listed in the study as 800 mg per day) had a negative > calcium balance due to an intake of several common drugs; most > notably, antacids that contain aluminum. > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > Beyond the moustache message > -------------------------------------------------------------- > > With calcium levels being an important issue here, we can't > ignore the fact that calcium intake alone is meager way to > address BMD problems (contrary to the message sent by the milk > " moustache " ads). > > In recent e-Alerts I've told you about some of the important > benefits of getting an adequate amount of magnesium from dietary > sources as well as supplements. And a good magnesium intake is > even more important for those who have a high intake of dietary > or supplementary calcium. > > In the e-Alert " To Lower, or Not to Lower... " HSI Panelist > Allan Spreen, M.D., had this to say: " Calcium without magnesium > doesn't occur in a natural human diet, so it shouldn't be > introduced to the body that way. Calcium alone has been found in > several experiments to be improperly laid down in the body, even > affecting arterial walls before setting up in bones. " > > And in a recent e-mail from Dr. Spreen, he made it clear that > bone health depends on a combination of important nutrients: > > " If osteoporosis is the problem, there's WAY more to the issue > than calcium and magnesium, in ANY ratio. Most HSI members have > long since left behind the commercial baloney about calcium for > osteoporosis, but it's even more complicated than most believe, > and requires full-spectrum nutrients. The 'biggies' in the list > include calcium, magnesium, manganese, vitamin D (in pretty high > amounts, too), boron, silica, other micro-minerals, progesterone > (natural, human form... NOT Provera), usually additional > digestive enzymes (along with plant-based hydrochloric acid), > all topped off with reasonable exercise; way less than beating > yourself to death, but more than sitting home knitting or > channel-surfing... brisk walking is wonderfully adequate. > > " Nature works on the team principal, which is why covering up > symptoms with single 'magic bullet' drugs has led us down a > primrose path of disease. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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