In the United States, treating and caring for people with osteoporosis costs almost $3.8 billion every year. A famous saying from Benjamin Franklin goes--An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With that said, avoid being part of this segment of the population by following a daily yogurt diet.
What Osteoporosis Is
Imagine a sponge. It is not compact and is riddled with holes containing nothing. When a person is afflicted with osteoporosis, their bones lose bone mass or minerals within the bones. After a period of time, there are pockets of nothing in the bones. Consequently, the bones gradually become weaker. Weak bones result in poor posture and an increased susceptibility to fractures.
Osteoporosis has two basic types: type I and type II. Hormonal changes in the body cause type I osteoporosis. Studies indicate that type II is caused by not enough calcium and vitamin D. Due to nutritional, hormonal and physiological factors, more women than men are afflicted of this illness.
Calcium and Vitamin D in a Yogurt Diet
Type II osteoporosis can be avoided when yogurt is eaten frequently because it has high amounts of calcium and vitamin D. The best choice is yogurt with 35 to 40 percent of the recommended daily allowance for calcium in an eight ounce serving size.
Do not assume that consuming a lot of calcium is enough. Nutrients that facilitate calcium absorption must be imbibed as well. Vitamin D that is present in yogurt helps the body absorb calcium more quickly. The top three brands that contain vitamin D are Yoplait, Dannon and Stonyfield.
Live-Cultures in Yogurt
Another element in yogurt that aids in calcium absorption is the live-active cultures that result when bacteria is added to milk to make yogurt. For this reason, an eight-ounce serving of yogurt supplements the calcium content in bones more than an eight-ounce serving of milk. Plus, live-active cultures ease the absorption of vitamin B by the body.
The production of lactic acid is also an effect of the bacterial fermentation process involved in the manufacture of yogurt. The bacteria react to the lactose in milk and produces lactic acid. Lactic acid assists the body in digesting milk calcium so that more of it is absorbed into the body.
Calcium Deficiency and Osteoporosis
Calcium and the calcium-absorption facilitators in yogurt make it an excellent source of calcium that may surpass that of milk or expensive calcium supplements. When young, calcium is stored in the bones as they develop. This stops as a person gets older, so the calcium that is absorbed is immediately used by the body. When not enough calcium is ingested, the body gets it from the bones. This is a sure path to osteoporosis. Avoid this disease by eating yogurt every day.
For more information about osteoporosis prevention along with osteoporosis treatment and medication, visit National Osteoporosis Foundation. Also, check out USDA My Pyramid website for selection tips on yogurt and other dairy products.
For more benefits that can be derived from a yogurt diet, check out Yogurt for Weight Loss and Fat Loss.
Sources:
Ynhh.com, Understanding Yogurt, May 16, 2010
Kimberly Danek - Kimberly Danek has a degree in Business Administration. She has previously worked for J.P. Morgan as a Fraud Recovery Analyst. As of the ...
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