A new book claims that osteoporosis is caused by too much cheese,milk and other animal products. Katie Donovan reports
What if eating a cheese sandwich for lunch, to help keep your bones healthy, was actually leaching them of calcium? In a new book on the huge increase in osteoporosis in the Western world, Prof Jane Plant claims that animal proteins, including dairy products, have an acidifying effect. The body, which operates best in a slightly alkaline environment, will rob bones of valuable stores of calcium and other minerals in order to alkalise itself after a heavy meal of animal proteins. The way forward, she believes, is to copy the eating habits of countries such as China, where diets are rich in alkalising food, notably fruit and vegetables.
Plant's interest in the Chinese diet began after she developed breast cancer at the age of 42. Having tried radiotherapy, chemotherapy, the Bristol diet, a mastectomy and the irradiation of her ovaries, she was given three months to live. With nothing to lose, and observing that Chinese women had a minuscule incidence of breast cancer, she decided to imitate their dairy-free diet. Six weeks later her tumour was gone, and for 15 years she has been cancer free.
Interviewing her three years ago, when Your Life In Your Hands, her book about this experience, was published, I was struck by her unpretentious approach. Here was a woman, glowing with health, trying to pass on an apparently valuable message to others at risk.
A rigorous scientist, she carried out extensive research and geographical observation to locate the underlying cause of her illness. She concluded that cow's milk, which contains a powerful growth chemical, IGF-1, sends the wrong message to human breasts (studies have confirmed that women with high levels of this substance are at risk from breast cancer). She also found that milk can contain concentrated amounts of fat-soluble environmental carcinogens. Plant is a professional geochemist, currently chief scientist of the British Geological Survey and professor of geochemistry at Imperial College London. She has also been awarded a CBE.
During that interview I asked her whether a person giving up dairy was at risk of developing osteoporosis. She was quick to point out that countries such as China, with a low intake of dairy, have an equally low incidence of osteoporosis. Her new book explores this issue in more detail. She wrote Understanding, Preventing & Overcoming Osteoporosis with Gill Tidey, the geoscientist with whom she also wrote The Plant Programme. It tackles a disease that is becoming frighteningly widespread and is extremely costly to treat and manage. For those over 50, being diagnosed with osteoporosis can mean a steady erosion of independence and quality of life along with the steady erosion of bone involved.
In the UK and Ireland, osteoporosis affects one in five women and one in 12 men over 50 (physiological and hormonal differences mean women are more greatly affected, particularly after menopause). In Ireland alone, osteoporosis is estimated to cost the Government €10 million a year - and in the US €12 billion. It most commonly leads to hip fracture, and in many cases the disease goes undetected until a fall, or even a bump, results in such an injury. Height and weight loss, curvature of the spine and being forced to use a walking stick are further complications.
Plant and Tidey agree with some conventional wisdom about risk factors for the development of the disease, such as ingesting too much salt and caffeine, and certain medications, such as thyroxine (prescribed for an underactive thyroid). They disagree that petiteness is a risk factor, however, citing the delicate bone structure of Chinese women, few of whom develop the disease. They also disagree that a diet low in calcium is a risk, citing populations in Asia and Africa.
The most significant risk factor is, they believe, the high level of animal protein ingested in rich Western countries.
The book contains a table of acid and alkaline foods, the latter being mostly fruit and vegetables but also including herbs and spices. Surprisingly, wine is also slightly alkaline. But meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, grains and some nuts are acidic. Hard cheeses are the most acidic of all (three times more than even beef). The answer, they argue, is to counteract the acidic effects of the proteins and grains with the alkalising effects of the fruit and vegetables. Where there is a clear risk of osteoporosis, they recommend extra calcium and vitamin D. For post-menopausal women, they suggest red clover and fish oils.
Although they do not advocate the abandonment of medical treatment, Plant and Tidey are sceptical about the value of HRT, which they say involves a fourfold risk of breast cancer and a threefold risk of cervical cancer. They recommend eating food with naturally-occurring phyto-oestrogens, such as soya and wholegrain cereals, instead. Milk is off the menu not only because it is an animal protein but also because it is high in IGF-1, which "may promote excessive bone remodelling".
Plant and her co-author return again and again to studies going back 30 years that show increased consumption of animal proteins appearing hand in hand with increased incidences of osteoporosis. WHO statistics show that countries such as the US and Germany, which consume the most animal products (including dairy), also have the highest rates of osteoporosis. They are mystified that there has been no concerted campaign to raise awareness of the connection. Instead, doctors and osteoporosis charities are still advising sufferers to take more calcium, citing dairy products as ideal.
Their conclusion is summed up in the words of one of a team of US researchers that has been studying the Chinese diet: "The association between the intake of animal protein and fracture rates appears to be as strong as the association between cigarette smoking and lung cancer."
So how do we reverse the trend of a protein-based, acid-inducing diet? The book includes simple recipes that seek to balance acid and alkaline foods. And with preparation times averaging five minutes, there is no longer any excuse for relying on the old cheese sandwich.
Understanding, Preventing & Overcoming Osteoporosis by Jane Plant and Gill Tidey is published by Virgin, £16.99