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How do I get my calcium on Paleo?
By Holly | October 20, 2009
I have come across this question many times when talking to others about Paleo. Since tossing all dairy aside – this seems like a reasonable question, right? Here’s the deal:
Our country has the highest intake of calcium in the world, yet we also have one of the highest rates of osteoporosis. Hmmm??? Doesn’t add up, right? Bone mineral content is dependent not just upon calcium intake but upon net calcium balance (calcium intake minus calcium excretion).
There is a HUGE focus on the calcium intake side of the calcium balance equation (how many “Got Milk” ads do you see when you read a magazine? or yogurt commercials on t.v.? ). Few realize that the calcium excretion side of the equation is just as important.
Paleo guru, Dr. Loren Cordain writes “bone health is substantially dependent on dietary acid/base balance. All foods upon digestion ultimately must report to the kidney as either acid or base. When the diet yields a net acid load (such as low-carb fad diets that restrict consumption of fruits and vegetables), the acid must be buffered by the alkaline stores of base in the body. Calcium salts in the bones represent the largest store of alkaline base in the body and are depleted and eliminated in the urine when the diet produces a net acid load. The highest acid-producing foods are hard cheeses, cereal grains, salted foods, meats, and legumes, whereas the only alkaline, base-producing foods are fruits and vegetables. Because the average American diet is overloaded with grains, cheeses, salted processed foods, and fatty meats at the expense of fruits and vegetables, it produces a net acid load and promotes bone de-mineralization. By replacing hard cheeses, cereal grains, and processed foods with plenty of green vegetables and fruits, the body comes back into acid/base balance which brings us also back into calcium balance.”
Your Paleo lifestyle recommends a balance of acidic and basic (alkaline) foods (i.e., lean meats, fish and seafood, fruits, and vegetables) and will not cause osteoporosis in otherwise healthy individuals.
The more you educate yourself on these topics, the easier it becomes to maintain your new or existing lifestyle. I just started reading Michael Pollan’s “In Defense of Food” – will let you know how it is!
Topics: Cynergy Central, Nutrition | 7 Comments »
October 21st, 2009 at 3:20 am
Great stuff Holly….thanks for sharing this!
October 21st, 2009 at 5:52 am
Could not have said that better. Like most other maladies in your life they are caused by what you are eating! Thanks Holly!
October 21st, 2009 at 8:10 am
I am totally enjoying the science of how the body works and processes the things we do and put into our mouths. I read the Paleo Diet book cover to cover in one sitting and articles like this are fascinating to me. Thank you for sharing. Keep ‘em coming.
October 21st, 2009 at 8:16 am
Thanks Holly! I just had someone ask me this question at 8AM!I’ll certainly share this! Thanks again.
October 21st, 2009 at 8:49 am
Thanks Holly, great post, awesome info!!! Keep up the good work, and when are we having dinner???
…Paleo of course…
October 21st, 2009 at 9:29 am
Thanks Holly. People are constantly telling my I should not be giving up dairy – especially as a woman. Think I’ll just print out a few copies of this and hand it out next time I hear that.
November 1st, 2009 at 6:53 am
[...] Original post by Holly [...]