Healthy Bones : What You Should Know about Osteoporosis

Library Journal

Appleton argues that body chemistries can become out of balance due to the foods we eat (sugar, dairy products, caffeine, alcohol, etc.) and mental stress. When this happens minerals are depleted from the bones and our bodies are more likely to get degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis. Calcium supplements also upset the body chemistry and contribute to bone loss. Through diet modification, osteoporosis can be prevented or stopped. She suggests a diet which includes a variety of vegetables, beans, grains, small amounts of protein, and avoidance of calcium-depleting food products. For a broader perspective on osteoporosis and a more balanced picture--one that covers the medical aspects more fully and discusses the effect of exercise--Robert P. Heaney's Calcium and Common Sense ( LJ 6/15/88) and Kenneth Cooper's Preventing Osteoporosis ( LJ 4/15/89) are preferred.-- Susan E. Holmer, Peninsula Lib. System, San Mateo, Cal.