This is a
painful realization to come to grips with. Since we were children, we have been
programmed to believe that we won’t achieve strong bones unless we drink our
daily glass of milk. Recent studies prove the opposite. While milk may
temporarily increase bone density, it erodes bone making cells in the long run,
leading to osteoporosis (along with smoking, genetics, and menopause). It
actually increases calcium loss from bones because of its acidifying
properties. Calcium is taken from your
bones to neutralize the acid in digesting milk!
Don’t we
need our calcium? Americans consume exclusively large amounts of calcium, and
in turn have one of the highest rates of osteoporosis in the world. On the
bright side, there are many other avenues to acquiring the proper intake of
calcium that are beneficial to your bones. Green leafy vegetables, sea
vegetables, nuts, legumes, and seeds allow for calcium “gain.” Gram for gram, milk is beat out by 50 plant
based calcium rich foods.
There are also some tasty alternatives to the creamy
milk that we all have grown to love. Behold nut milks! Stroll along the milk
aisle of any health food store and you’ll see countless alternatives to cows
milk: Almond Milk, Rice Milk, Hemp Milk, and the infamous Soy Milk. A milk alternative
can also appeal to those who are concerned about weight because of the
comparatively low level of fat and calories.
And for those of you who are not ready to forfeit animal milk, and are
feeling adventurous, don’t hesitate to try goat’s milk, which is a staple in
much of the world. It is easier to digest because of its smaller protein
molecules, and has as much calcium as whole cow’s milk. Just beware, its extremely rich, and undeniably “goaty.”
So what
happens if we have already developed osteoporosis? Unfortunately there is no
way to cure it, but there are treatments to help you deal with the pain. Don’t
hesitate to get in touch with your Chiropractor, who can use gentle techniques
to alleviate the associated pain.
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