Facts About Diet

      Dr. John Lee advises women on the benefits of a whole grain diet including fresh vegetables, especially leafy greens, fruits and vitamin/mineral supplementation. Though osteoporosis is often looked at as a disease of calcium deficiency, he believes it is more likely a disease of excess protein. The more animal protein you eat the more calcium you will excrete in your urine, thus creating a negative calcium balance. He advises women to rely more on vegetal sources for their protein needs (approx. 30 grams of protein a day is enough) and to avoid animal protein. Statistics do show that vegetarians' experience half as much bone loss as compared to those whose diet is high in meat and dairy products.

     The countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis are North America and the Scandinavian countries, all big milk consumers. Why? Many women are lactose intolerant and aren't able to assimilate the calcium in milk. Secondly, milk is composed of 8 parts calcium and only 1 part magnesium. Our bodies need a much higher ratio of magnesium in order to assimilate the calcium. Plants have a much better balanced mineral relationship and can meet all of our mineral needs. He advises women to get their calcium/magnesium from plant foods first (especially dark green leaf vegetables) and if necessary to use supplements. Also, beta-carotene, zinc and vitamin C help to build the collagen matrix of bone. (Ed.'s note: all of these nutrients are present in green barley juice. However, if you need extra calcium, use a chelated mineral supplement with a ratio of approximately 2 or 3 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium). Those who do not have adequate sun exposure should also take 400 IU of vitamin D daily.

     Dr. Lee states, "There are many tests that show that if you can get people off a high animal protein diet and on to a plant-based diet, their symptoms of menopause will be cleared or made much, much less. And this is so commonly found in studies that it just boggles the mind to think that the average doctor never mentions it to his patient. Most doctors just think of prescribing estrogen."

These pages are provided for information only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, sickness or condition. If you require medical assistance please see a nutritionally wise and progesterone friendly health practitioner.