Magnesium, Vegetables and Bone Health

sarita — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:57:39 +0000

Elena Conis wrote an informative piece for the LA Times discussing the relationship between fruits and vegetables and levels of acidity in diet and bone health. If you thought that bone health was mostly determined by your intake of calcium through milk, think again! Regulating the acidity balance of blood is critical for those experiencing bone loss. Conis writes:

“…In a follow-up study of more than 3,000 of the women in the Scottish study, the same researchers found that bone mineral density was 2% higher in women who consumed the lowest-acid diets compared with those who ate the highest-acid diets. Among pre-menopausal women, hip bone mineral density was 8% higher and lumbar spine density 6% higher in those who consumed the most potassium compared with those who consumed the least…”

The article continues:

“…The primary virtue of a low-acid diet may be its emphasis on fruits, vegetables and whole grains, says Joan Salge-Blake, a nutrition professor at Boston University and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Assn. “A plant-based diet is not only good for bones, it’s good for a lot of other things too,” including lowering the risk of hypertension, stroke and heart disease, she says…”

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Magnesium, Vegetables and Bone Health