This should be avoided

In osteoporosis, other substances should be removed from the diet as far as possible.This lowers the calcium level in the blood and thus also the calcium that is available to be incorporated into bone tissue. Phosphate is found in large quantities in meat and sausage products and also in processed cheese. It is also present as an additive in many foods and is labelled as E 338.

341 and E 450 on the packaging. Some acids, especially oxalic acid, which can be found in rhubarb, chard and spinach, among others, bind calcium (and other minerals) in the intestine, thus preventing it from being absorbed here. Consequently, one should not consume these products excessively.

Protein intake also plays a special role in the diet of patients with osteoporosis. On the one hand, it has been proven that the intake of protein can also support the formation of bone tissue. On the other hand, an excessive intake (especially of animal protein such as meat, which contains a high number of sulphur-containing amino acids such as methionine and cysteine) is accompanied by a decrease in the pH value in the urine.

This change increases the excretion of calcium. Alcohol and caffeine have a similar effect, which, by inhibiting the release of the hormone adiuretin (ADH), leads to increased excretion of fluid and thus also calcium. Especially in osteoporosis, the intake of too much table salt, which contains a large amount of sodium, is also bad.

Sodium promotes the excretion of calcium via the kidneys and its intake should therefore never exceed five to six grams per day. Here, too, you should take a look at the label of a mineral water bottle, as water sometimes contains sodium in very high quantities (200 mg per liter should never be exceeded)! Otherwise, the use of iodized salt enriched with fluoride is recommended for cooking and seasoning.

For the reasons described above, among others, in the case of osteoporosis one should take care to keep the consumption of stimulants such as alcohol (in addition, excessive alcohol consumption leads to a deficiency of many people, especially vitamins and trace elements), caffeine (coffee, cola, black tea) and cigarette smoking at a low level. The nicotine contained in cigarette smoke worsens the blood circulation in bone tissue and also promotes the breakdown of the female sex hormone estrogen. These two mechanisms ultimately promote the development of osteoporosis.