Mailbag! Milk's Ugly Secret
By
Natalie Moore
Posted March 23, 2017
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
You’ve got questions…
We’ve got answers!
Bone loss is a serious concern as we age.
So you do what you can — you work out and eat a healthy diet that includes calcium-rich dairy, all in hopes that you’ll have strong bones well into your golden years.
But it turns out eating all that dairy may not be the bone-strengthening secret the mainstream has made it out to be.
Unless you’re taking it with a certain vitamin, that is.
Let’s dive in…
Natalie,
I’ve been eating dairy for years because my doctor tells me it’s good for my bones. But just yesterday, my neighbor told me I have to take vitamin D with dairy or it’s not going to protect my bones as well. My doc has never mentioned this before. Is this true? And if so, isn’t there already vitamin D in milk? Should I be taking more?
Thanks,
Julie L.
Excellent question, Julie. Many folks have questions about the role dairy plays in bone health.
Yes, your neighbor is correct. Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones because it helps your body absorb calcium and then directs it to your bones.
You see, many docs recommend milk and dairy products for bone health because they contain calcium, which can help strengthen your bones.
But they forget to tell you that calcium is pretty much useless to your bones if you’re not taking it with vitamin D.
For a new study, researchers looked at four years of the dietary and medical data on folks around age 75.
And what they found was shocking…
Dairy intake had zero effect on bone mineral density over the course of four years in folks not taking a vitamin D supplement. Meaning that no matter how much dairy they ate, it did not strengthen their bones.
On the other hand, folks who took vitamin D supplements with their calcium experienced increased bone mineral density (or stronger bones).
This means drinking milk, even when it’s fortified, won’t be enough to make your bones stronger. You really need to be getting as much vitamin D as possible to make sure the calcium actually makes it to your bones.
The type of vitamin D you should be taking is D3, which is the form naturally found in your body.
And there’s another important vitamin you should know about if you want to get the most out of your dairy — vitamin K2, which can keep calcium from getting into your arteries.
You see, when calcium enters the body, it needs helpers to get to your bones and not your arteries, where it can create dangerous blockages.
And that’s why taking vitamins D3 and K2 with any form of calcium is so important.
Taking this powerful nutrient combo can help keep your arteries clear and your bones strong, which makes it a no-brainer addition to a calcium-rich diet.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.
Sources
[1] Dairy Plus Vitamin D Needed to Preserve Bone Density in the Old
Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
REAL Drug-Free Back Pain Relief
Recently, I’ve had several exasperated people ask me, “Is back pain something I just have to live with?” I battled chronic back pain for years, so I completely understand why some folks feel so hopeless about finding relief. In fact, I used to think I was doomed to a life of pain and limitations, too....
Mailbag: When to Worry About Memory Lapses
“I’ve been experiencing some memory lapses recently, and I’m worried it might be early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. My mother also had it. What symptoms should I look out for?” – Ann Hi Ann, It’s important to recognize that some degree of memory loss is a normal part of life. Our brains constantly process and...
The Unforeseen Link Between Your Gut and Your Waistline
As the weather warms up and summer approaches, many of us start thinking about shedding those extra pounds… We dust off our gym memberships, stock up on salad greens, and vow to finally fit into those shorts from last year. But what if I told you that the key to achieving a healthy weight might...
Defy Aging with the Sunshine Vitamin
If there’s one thing you absolutely must do for your health, it’s to maintain healthy vitamin D levels. I can’t stress this enough. And if you think vitamin D is only good for beefing up your bones, think again. Because while vitamin D is crucial for maintaining healthy bones, recent research has revealed that this...
Detox Your Drinking Water with a Microplastics Purge
We’re surrounded by plastics. They’re everywhere, from the obvious plastic shampoo bottle to the not-so-obvious clothing on our backs. From the moment we get up in the morning until we slide beneath the sheets at night, we are in contact with them. Heck, some bedsheets contain plastic fibers, so you may ALSO be exposed while...
The TRUTH About Word Finding Troubles
Picture this. You’re having a lively conversation with a friend, and suddenly, find yourself grasping for a word that’s just out of reach. You KNOW it’s in there somewhere, hiding in the recesses of your mind. But no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to pin it down. When you have trouble word...
FDA Finally Admits “BANNED” Soda Ingredient is Unsafe
I’m not a soda fan for MANY reasons. I wrote an entire book on the dangers of sugar, for example. And research links soda drinking to fatty liver disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer’s. And the diet stuff is no better. Fake-sugar-filled diet sodas cause “metabolic confusion,” and artificial sweeteners are...
Discover WHY We Accidentally Overeat (and How to Stop)
Picture this… You finish eating a nice meal feeling just fine. But then, 20 minutes later, you’re groaning and clutching your belly because you feel uncomfortably stuffed. If this sounds familiar, you’re in good company. Most of us have had this happen. Science reveals why accidental overeating occurs… and what we can do to avoid...
Find Exercise Exhausting and Painful? Try THIS Natural Fix
If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: “You need to exercise.” And sure, you know how vital it is to healthy aging. But let’s be honest, sometimes it feels nearly impossible to get moving—especially when you know you’ll be sore for DAYS after. However, hold on to your seat because I’ve...
Mailbag: Unsteady on Your Feet? Now What?
“I’ve been having trouble with my balance lately and have fallen a couple of times. Could this be related to osteoporosis or another underlying cause?” – John Hi John, It’s always concerning when someone experiences balance issues or falls. While osteoporosis can contribute to an increased risk of falling, several other underlying causes should also...