Milk Causes Osteoporosis?

I was taught milk consumption is one way to try to reduce the incidence of osteoporosis. Even the National Osteoporosis Foundation tells us we need to drink milk because it has calcium that builds stronger bones. Too bad scientific evidence does not support this.

Statistics:

It is very simple: where the most milk is consumed, the osteoporosis incidence is highest. Compared to other countries, the most milk is consumed in Sweden, Finland, Switzerland and The Netherlands, and osteoporosis incidence in these countries has sky rocketed. Americans consume three fold more milk than the Japanese, and hip-fracture incidence in Americans is therefore 2½ fold higher. In Venezuela and Chile much less milk is consumed than in the US, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, while the hip fracture incidence in Venezuela and Chile is over 3 fold lower. Chinese consume very little milk, and hip-fracture incidence, therefore, is among the lowest in the world; hip-fracture incidence in Chinese women is 6 fold lower than in the US.

The less milk consumed, the lower is the osteoporosis rate.

Milk in the long term erodes bone-making cells, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.

Why the conflicts between the bulk of research findings and the recommendations of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF)? Other funding comes from small and large private donations, with some from the federal government. Another big supporter of the NOF is Bozell Worldwide, the marketing firm that created the huge milk mustache campaign for the dairy industry.

Only two percent of the NOF's funding has gone to osteoporosis research.

Information available at http://www.4.waisays.com/ExcessiveCalcium.htm , http://thebabybond.com/MilkingYourBones.html , http://www.news-medical.net/news/2005/09/12/13120.aspx

People can get calcium in many other ways besides having a glass of milk. Good vegan calcium sources include collard greens, broccoli, kale, turnip greens, tofu prepared with calcium, and fortified beverages including orange juice, soy or almond milk (be sure to check the labels).

More information about Milk coming soon........