A Vegetarian Diet and Osteoporosis

A vegetarian diet lowers the risk for osteoporosis. Since animal products force calcium out of the body, eating meat can promote bone loss.

Diets that are high in protein, especially animal protein, tend to cause the body to excrete more calcium, oxalate, and uric acid

In nations with mainly vegetable diets (and without dairy product consumption), osteoporosis is less common than in the U.S., even when calcium intake is also less than in the U.S.

Calcium is important, but there is no need to get calcium from dairy products. In fact cow's milk is said to actually destroy bone mass.

We continue to consume meat, while at the same time downing calcium supplements and prescription drugs as prevention, that often have drastic side effects. And most experts agree that calcium supplements are inferior to calcium derived from natural food sources.

Doesn’t it make more sense to get your calcium from eating a healthy vegetarian diet?

What are some good vegetarian sources of calcium? Orange juice, for one, dry beans, such as black-eyed peas, kidney beans and black beans are another good source, as are dark leafy vegetables such as broccoli and kale. Tofu is also a good source of calcium.

So lowering your risk is one of many reasons for becoming a vegetarian.