The Paradox of Milk and Bone Health

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Consuming a lot of milk for calcium to build strong bones may not necessarily reduce fracture risk in later life. Countries with high milk consumption have been found to have higher fracture rates, especially in Northern European countries. The promotion of growth by milk can lead to taller individuals with longer bones, which actually increases the risk of hip fractures. Childhood consumption of milk, especially among boys, has shown to be associated with a higher risk of hip fractures in later life. Surprisingly, there is no significant benefit for women in consuming milk to prevent fractures, even during menopause. The amount of calcium needed for bone health may be lower than previously recommended, as indicated by lower fracture risk in countries with lower calcium intake. While calcium is essential, the emphasis on high milk consumption for bone health may not be accurate, and a more moderate intake of dairy, like yogurt or fermented products, may be a better approach.

Do you realize how closely your diet affects your general health and well-being? Have you ever wondered how advertising affects what you eat? How much do you think your childhood diet is affecting your health in the long run?

In today’s episode, Jonathan is joined by Prof. Walter Willett to discuss the importance of carefully considering what you eat and making decisions that support your health.

Professor Walter Willett, from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, is the world's most cited nutritional scientist — with over 2,000 publications and several books to his name. Prof. Willett has focused much of his work over the last 40 years on the development and evaluation of methods to study the effects of diet on the occurrence of major diseases.

If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to zoe.com/podcast, and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.

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Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction

01:42 Quickfire questions

04:07 What is the average Western diet today?

08:01 Why is so hard to get a straight answer on diet and disease?

10:15 The latest understanding on the link between diet and disease

14:31 Carbohydrates: distinguishing the beneficial from the detrimental

17:47 The hidden truths behind refined starches and sugary beverages

27:06 Diet is a public health issue

32:18 How bad is red meat consumption and soy alternative?