Are You Increasing Your Risk For Osteoporosis?
Risking osteoporosis
It is general knowledge that calcium and vitamin D are needed to build strong bones. However, it is not commonly known that there could be certain elements in your diet that can actually reduce bone density and increase your risk for osteoporosis. Protein is essential for building strong bones but too much of anything, despite its being beneficial, could result in adverse effects. If you take too much protein, your body produces chemicals called sulfates that can cause calcium to leach out of the bones.
More prominent with animal protein than vegetable protein, studies showed that women who ate red meat at least five times a week were more likely to have a bone fracture than women who ate red meat only once a week. Studies also showed that caffeine and cola beverages increase the risk of bone fractures. In the Nurses Health Study II, results indicated that women taking vitamin A in doses exceeding 3,000 micrograms a day were more likely to suffer a hip fracture than women who take 1,500 micrograms or less a day. It appears that although vitamin A is necessary for bone growth, too much of the retinol form of vitamin A interferes with vitamin D absorption, which, in turn, causes bone loss.
Wheat bran is known to reduce the absorption of calcium and can counter any effects of calcium supplements that you may be taking at that time. If you take calcium supplements, foods containing wheat bran should be eaten two or more hours before or after taking the supplement. Too much alcohol can affect the absorption of calcium and vitamin D. If you take less alcohol, it lowers your risk for osteoporosis.
You should balance your protein and carbohydrate diet with vegetables and fruits. Neutralizing an acid-producing die by eating fruits and vegetables may be vital to reducing bone loss. You should always try to achieve a well-balanced diet to keep healthy. Getting the recommended amount of calcium each day to offset any loss of calcium caused by any other foods you eat will go a long way to preventing bone loss.
