Joel Fuhrman - Eat To Live

86 Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

Epidemiologic studies have linked osteoporosis not to low cal-

cium intake but to various nutritional factors that cause excessive

calcium loss in the urine. The continual depletion of our calcium re-

serves over time, from excessive calcium excretion in the urine, is

the primary cause of osteoporosis. Now, let us consider the factors

that contribute to this excessive urinary calcium excretion.

Dietary Factors That Induce Calcium Loss in the Urine^69

animal protein

salt

caffeine

refined sugar

alcohol

nicotine

aluminum-containing antacids

drugs such as antibiotics, steroids, thyroid hormone

vitamin A supplements

Published data clearly links increased urinary excretion of cal-

cium with animal-protein intake but not with vegetable-protein in-

take.^70 Plant foods, though some may be high in protein, are not

acid-forming. Animal-protein ingestion results in a heavy acid load

in the blood. This sets off a series of reactions whereby calcium is re-

leased from the bones to help neutralize the acid. The sulfur-based

amino acids in animal products contribute significantly to urinary

acid production and the resulting calcium loss.^71 The Nurses Health

Study found that women who consumed 95 grams of protein a day

had a 22 percent greater risk of forearm fracture than those who con-

sumed less than 68 grams.^72

The most comprehensive epidemiological survey involving hip

fractures and food was done in 19 92.^73 The authors sought out every

peer-reviewed geographical report ever done on hip-fracture inci-

dence. They located thirty-four published studies of women in six-

teen countries. Their analysis showed that diets high in animal protein

had the highest correlation with hip-fracture rates, with an 81 per-

cent correlation between eating animal protein and fractures.

The extra calcium contained in dairy foods simply cannot coun-

teract the powerful effect of all the factors listed in the table above.

The average American diet is not only high in protein but high in

salt, sugar, and caffeine and low in fruits and vegetables. Fruits and