If you’re drinking milk to build strong bones you might be surprised by the findings of a 12-year Harvard Nurses’ Health Study. This study followed over 121,000 female registered nurses in 11 states between the ages of 30 and 50 looking at associations between calcium sources, bone density and rates of bone and hip fractures – and the results may surprise you.
A baseline group was established that excluded implausibly high or low daily food intake, previous hip or forearm fractures or diagnoses of heart disease, stroke, cancer or osteoporosis. Of the 77, 761 women that remained the study found that those with the highest intake of dairy foods had higher incidents of fractures.
The study found a couple of interesting things. First, consumption of calcium from dairy products offered no protection against bone and hip fractures. Next, the rate of fractures to the forearm or hip was actually higher in women who consumed more dairy products than in women who reported significantly lower daily and weekly dairy consumption.
That’s right – women who consumed the most calcium from dairy foods reported more bone fractures than those who rarely drank milk or consumed dairy products.
Modern Dairy Farming
A recent FOX News article listed 7 foods you should never eat. In the article a cancer researcher says that he won't drink milk coming from farms that treat their cattle with growth hormones - a common practice to boost production. Here's the quote from the article:
Rick North is project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society.
The problem: Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. "When the government approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would be broken down in the human digestive tract," says North. As it turns out, the casein in milk protects most of it, according to several independent studies. "There's not 100 percent proof that this is increasing cancer in humans," admits North. "However, it's banned in most industrialized countries."
Better Choices for Calcium
When most people think about sources of calcium they think of dairy products – but calcium is found in many other, healthier food choices.
Dark leafy greens are often high in calcium. Broccoli, kale and romaine lettuce are not only good sources of calcium but also have other vital nutrients for the body like vitamin C and antioxidants.
Nuts like almonds and walnuts are a good source of calcium. They are also good sources for “good fats” that the body needs.
Soy products like tofu and soy milk are also good sources of both calcium and protein.
And let’s not forget ionized alkaline water. When water is ionized the molecular structure and surface tension of the water is altered making it more easily absorbed by the body – along with the beneficial minerals that are found in the water.
Minerals like calcium and magnesium are absorbed from the water at higher rates. This helps decrease the amount of calcium the body robs from bones and teeth to neutralize toxins in the body.
Did you know that one of the leading causes of bone loss and osteoporosis in adults is an overly-acidic, overly-toxic body? The body uses calcium to neutralize acidity in the body. If your body is unable to take in enough calcium to support its natural ‘detox’ system, then it begins borrowing it from the bones.
Calcium is also necessary for proper muscle performance – including the heart – and helps with vision? Again, when the body is overly acidic, calcium is not only robbed from the bones but is also diverted from the muscles, heart, lungs and eyes.
Calcium & Antioxidants Combined
Ionized alkaline water provides a “one-two” punch against the over-acidity that contributes to calcium loss in the body.
First, the calcium in your source water is better absorbed by the body after ionization – replenishing what is lost or used during the day.
Next, ionized alkaline water is rich in antioxidants – helping reduce toxins in the body so that that calcium in the body can go where it needs to go – to the bones, lungs, heart, eyes and brain – rather than being used up trying to maintain proper blood pH.
Forget milk – got ionized alkaline water? Rich in antioxidants, good source of calcium and other minerals that truly “does a body good.”