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Hi Jane. I personally have not met any long time macrobiotics developing this problem, mainly because this problem is attributed to lack of estrogen and excess protein. The macrobiotic diet -- especially the vegetarian version may have as much as ten times the amount of estrogen as the Standard American Diet (SAD). When high protein foods are eaten more calcium gets flushed out of the body but this amount is greatly reduced when vegetable protein such as soy is used on a daily baisis. This degenerative disease usually affects women over
50 years old. The most common form occurs in women after menopause.
Researchers have found that fewer Asian women have osteoporois even though they consume less calcium (Messina & Messina, '94/Fujita '96). Cultured soy products (fermented soy)
have been found to be better absobed and more fully utilized within the body than regular soy products.
While geneics plays a big part in many degenerative forms of illness, osteoporois can usually be avoided by adding more green vegetable, beans, seaweeds, and fermented soy products to the daily diet while backing off a bit on high protein foods. Walking, free weight lifting, and aerobics also helps to increase bone density to a high degree. Vit D is needed to absorb calcium from food and incorporate it into bones. A hormone imbalance, such as parathyroid or chronic renal failure (as well as past use of corticosteroids, barbituates, anti-convulsants, thyroid hormones, alcohol and cigarette smoking) can also lead to osteoporosis.
In general, however, the standard macrobiotic diet (in theory)
along with a regular exercise program should prevent osteoporosis.
In peace, Roy
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