Does Excess Body Acidity Contribute to Bone Loss?

THE PROTEIN CONTROVERSY

Some groups claim that North Americans, who have a diet high in protein and dairy products, are at greater risk of osteoporosis and fractures than people who live in countries where meat and dairy products are not a large part of the diet. The reasoning behind this claim is that meat and dairy products contain protein, and excess protein can contribute to bone loss.

However, rarely do seniors eat too much protein. The opposite is, in fact, more commonly the truth. In most people who fracture, it is not too much protein that is the problem; it is, more often than not, too little protein. Many studies show that women and seniors do not consume enough protein daily. In fact, in the elderly, protein deficiency may be an important problem for bone health. Excessive amounts of protein are not a concern for most people and will only promote bone loss if calcium intake is not adequate.

In addition, there are no studies showing that drinking milk causes bone loss. Indeed, the opposite is true: more dairy means greater bone mass and therefore stronger bones.