Diseases
OSTEOPOROSIS and BONE DISEASE
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Osteoporosis and Bone Disease
Osteoporosis, like other diseases, progresses over time as a result of a continuously unhealthful diet. But the cause may be different than what you might think.
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis simply means “porous bones” (“osteo” means “bone”), or bones with many small holes. The question is, where do the holes come from? Contrary to common belief, osteoporosis is not really caused by a deficiency in calcium from the diet. Although a true calcium deficiency can result in weak bone development, this is not the cause of osteoporosis. The pores in the bones form over time as calcium is continuously pulled from the bones to neutralize acids in the blood. Metabolic acidosis has significant implications in the development of osteoporosis.
Metabolic Acidosis
Metabolic Acidosis is the condition of the body becoming too acidic. Since even small variations in the acidity of the blood can be lethal, the body tightly controls the acid-base balance and relies on multiple methods to maintain a stable pH (acid-base balance). If necessary, the body may pull minerals from the bones to restore proper pH balance (Delimaris; Frassetto et al). If this continues over a long period of time, the bones slowly dissolve and become porous and fragile. Osteoporosis, like many diseases, develops over time, but doesn’t become apparent until the disease is significantly progressed.
The most common cause of metabolic acidosis is dietary consumption of animal-based foods (meat, dairy, and eggs). Animal-based foods are inherently acidic and significantly increase the acidity of the body (Adeva et al).
Dairy, Calcium, and Osteoporosis
Calcium, like all minerals, comes from the earth. Cows are not the source of calcium. Cows get their calcium from the grass they eat, just like we get our calcium from the vegetables, fruits, and nuts (wholesome herbs) we eat. Consumption of dairy does not strengthen bones; in fact, countries with the highest dairy consumption also have the highest rates of osteoporosis.
The irony of dairy and calcium is that we consume dairy for calcium, yet dairy products increase the acidity of the blood which pulls more calcium from the bones to balance the pH. The result is a net decrease in bone mineralization, meaning that our bones have less calcium when we consume dairy than when we do not. It is better – healthier, safer, and more strengthening to our bones – to obtain our calcium through whole plant foods. Dairy is not necessary, but rather detrimental, to bone health.
Research
Adeva MM, et al. Diet-Induced Metabolic Acidosis. Clinical Nutrition, 30(4): 416-421, Aug. 2011.
Delimaris I. Adverse Effects Associated with Protein Intake Above the Recommended Dietary Allowance for Adults. International Scholarly Research Network: Nutrition. 2013: 126929, Jul. 2013.
Michaelsson K, et al. Milk Intake and Risk of Mortality and Fractures in Women and Men: Cohort Studies. British Medical Journal, 349: g6015, 28 Oct. 2014.
Frassetto LA, et al. Commentary to accompany the paper entitled ‘Nutritional disturbance in acid–base balance and osteoporosis: a hypothesis that disregards the essential homeostatic role of the kidney’, by Jean-Philippe Bonjour. British Journal of Nutrition, 110(11): 17 Jun. 2013.
McDougall C, et al. Plant-Based Diets Are Not Nutritionally Deficient. [Letter] Permanente Journal, 17(4): 93, Fall 2013.