Did you know that drinking lots of milk may not really help prevent osteoporosis? Learn what you can really do to help prevent and treat osteoporosis.
Many people suffer from osteoporosis. This is especially true for women after menopause.
However, they may wonder why they have a calcium deficiency despite drinking milk every day. They may even take calcium supplements.
In this article, we’ll give a possible explanation to this question. Then, we’ll offer healthy alternatives to give your body the calcium it needs in a simple, natural way.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease that is characterized by a loss of bone mass. It also includes a progressive deterioration of your skeletal system.
This disease increases the fragility of your bones. And, as a result, it also increases your risk of fractures.
More women than men suffer from osteoporosis. This happens most often after middle age. It is also determined by genetic and hereditary factors.
Other factors influence it. These include:
- Malnutrition
- An unbalanced diet
- Some medications
- Being sedentary
- Hormonal problems
One of the problems with detecting this disease is that there aren’t any symptoms until you suffer from a fracture or pain.
Because of this, you need to be more attentive if you have a family history of this disease.
Is milk a good source of calcium?
One of the main pieces of advice for fighting osteoporosis, and other diseases, is to get calcium. For decades, people have been told to drink a glass of milk every day to get this mineral.
However, as time as passed, osteoporosis is more and more frequent. Also, it’s appearing at younger ages.
We could say that the quality of milk has been reduced to the point that it’s become a processed drink that is very different than the original. However, it’s still a product that’s rich in calcium salts. Thanks to the lactose, they are easier to digest.
That being said, there are other factors that make it more difficult to absorb this mineral. For example, proteins or lactose intolerance.
In addition, many people suffer from this without knowing it. This decreases their intestine’s ability to assimilate nutrients.
Treat osteoporosis with milk
More and more studies show that a constant consumption of milk doesn’t prevent or treat osteoporosis. It addition, it also may increase your risk of suffering from ovarian and prostate cancer as well as cardiovascular diseases.
With these results, it seems like a good idea to look for another source of calcium for your body.
Calcium supplements
When you take a medicinal supplement, your body doesn’t always absorb this the nutrients the way you want it to.
In this case, if you take calcium as a supplement, you may also increase your risk of calcifications, kidney stones, and cardiovascular diseases.
If you have to take it, try to divide it up into doses throughout the day. In addition, always try to eat it with food. At the same time, be sure you’re getting enough vitamin D.
However, you might be in time to prevent needing to take a supplement. In this case, we suggest that you look for foods that are naturally rich in calcium.
Natural alternatives with calcium
If you want to have a diet rich in calcium, you need to add the following foods to your diet. They’re all lactose-free.
- Sardines
- Seafood and caviar
- Vegetables (leeks, Swiss chard, broccoli, or spinach)
- Sesame seeds (these can be eaten raw, toasted, or cold-pressed)
- Nut mixes (almonds, hazelnut)
- Dried fruits (figs, dates)
- Legumes (garbanzo beans, lentils)
- Caraway
- Parsley
Other influential factors
If you want to completely stop and treat osteoporosis, you should keep in mind other influential factors. This will help you to either prevent it or treat it.
These factors are:
- Get some natural sun on a daily basis or take a vitamin D3 supplement under the supervision of a medical professional.
- Regulate your hormones during times of change, like menopause. This lets you keep your levels balanced (estrogen for women and testosterone for men).
- Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages.
- Reduce the amount of sugar and sugary foods you eat.
- Do medium intensity workouts at least two to three times per week. This will directly influence the strength of your bones.
Via: StepToHealth
