Milk and dairy products abound in vitamin D and calcium, substances essential for building and maintaining bones. If consumed regularly, they can prevent osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones with age. However, a study of a large number of people over a long period found that those who consumed dairy products throughout their lives had a significantly increased risk of bone fractures. Since osteoporosis is a symptom of bone weakness, this evidence indicates that dairy products may in fact increase, rather than decrease, the risk of osteoporosis’A wealth of research has linked osteoporosis to vitamin D and calcium. Calcium is essential for healthy bones, and vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Osteoporosis occurs when bones become brittle and porous, making them more vulnerable to breaking or fracturing. In 1998, the National Osteoporosis Foundation reported that 1.2 million fractures in the U.

S. each year are caused by osteoporosis. Researchers have also determined that osteoporosis is a disease that results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. These factors include age, gender, race, weight, and levels of physical activity. A diet high in dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, could increase the risk of osteoporosis. Eating foods high in calcium and vitamin D, such as leafy green vegetables, seeds, and nuts, could reduce the risk of osteoporosis. The dairy industry claims that dairy products are ‘abundant in vitamin D and calcium,’ and that dairy products can help prevent osteoporosis. However, the epidemiological study cited in the quoted text does not support this claim. The study examined 32,000 women between the ages of 50 and 64 over a 20-year period. It found that women who consumed 2 or more servings of dairy each day had a 65% increased risk of hip fractures, compared to women who consumed less than 1 serving per day. The researchers did not determine whether the women who consumed 2 or more servings per day consumed dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, or non-dairy products, such as fortified orange juice. The increased rate of hip fractures among the women who consumed 2 or more servings per day of dairy suggests that the consumption could have either increased or decreased their risk of osteoporosis. The study does not provide enough information to support its claim that dairy products increase, rather than decrease, the risk of osteoporosis. The epidemiological study supports the claim that dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, are good foods. The medium-chain triglycerides found in milk, called MCTs, are not digested by the body, but pass straight through the digestive tract, providing quick energy. Studies have shown that MCTs can lower cholesterol levels, improve insulin metabolism, and help maintain a healthy weight. Dairy products are also rich in protein, which increases the body’s supply of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Proteins regulate the body’s metabolism and build and repair tissues. Dairy products also contain riboflavin, a vitamin that promotes bone growth. However, the epidemiological study cited does not support the claim that a diet that consistently includes dairy products increases, rather than decreases, the risk of osteoporosis. The epidemiological study provides evidence that dairy products are healthy, but does not support the conclusion that they must be included in a healthy diet to prevent osteoporosis.