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We've been told for years to drink milk because calcium builds strong bones and teeth, and we should, but this essential mineral plays many more key roles in maintaining good health.
Along with building bones and teeth, calcium also aids in controlling high blood pressure, reducing the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, and even protecting against colon cancer. "Researchers at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute tested and compared the effects of three eating plans:
1) Standard American fare
2) A diet high in fruits and vegetables, and
3) A combination diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. |
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The study found that the degree of blood pressure reduction from the combination eating plan that had dairy products was comparable to that of some anti-hypertensive medications. By comparison, the diet rich in fruits and vegetables was about half as effective as the combination diet in controlling blood pressure.
Colon cancer develops from tiny polyps that are the result of rapidly multiplying cells in the lining of the intestine. Why these cells develop into polyps is not completely understood, but the theory is that a high-fat diet produces high amounts of fatty acids in the intestine, which accelerate the cell proliferation. Growing evidence suggests calcium can slow this process by binding to fatty acids and bile acids."
[Washingtonpost.com, July 6, 1999] |
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