Hi folks,

My wife just returned from a drive and announced that the local (and
Vermont's largest) hospital, Fletcher Allen, in a "health care tip" on the
radio, recommended a vegitarian diet as being best to prevent osteoporosis.

Below is a quote from a web site (not the hospital's) that lays out the
theory. Since paleo people did not have this problem, what is wrong with the
science?

Tom Barber

"How does a high protein intake cause bone loss? In the process of
metabolizing protein, phosphoric and sulfuric acids are produced that must
first be buffered with calcium, an alkalinizing mineral, before they can be
excreted in the urine. Calcium is actually drawn out of the bones to reduce
or buffer these acid by-products of protein metabolism. If protein intake is
high and calcium intake is low or even moderate, a significant net loss of
calcium can result. When we consume the typical 95 grams of daily protein,
calcium is lost from the body, even on a very high calcium diet. Other
substances, taken in excess, also lead to calcium loss. For example,
phosphorus (often found in sodas), as well as caffeine, sugar, fats, salt
and alcohol can all become significant bone robbers. "