Product Description
Calcium pills don't work. Dairy products don't strengthen bones. Drugs may be dangerous. For years, doctors have been telling us to drink milk, eat dairy products, and take calcium pills to improve our bone vitality. The problem is, they’re wrong. This groundbreaking guide uses the latest clinical studies and the most upto- date medical information to help you strengthen your bones, reduce the risk of fractures, and prevent osteoporosis. You’ll learn why there’s no proof of calcium’s effectiveness, despite what doctors say, and why a low-acid diet is the only effective way to prevent bone loss. "This clear, convincing explanation of osteoporosis will change the way the world thinks about bone health. Lanou and Castleman prove beyond doubt that milk and dairy are the problem, not the solution." -Rory Freedman, coauthor of #1 New York Times best seller Skinny Bitch "The authors have tackled an almost intractable myth: that calcium is the one and only key to bone vitality. It isn't. Everyone who cares about preventing osteoporosis should read this book." -- Dr. T. Colin Campbell, author of The China Study

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 6 reviews)

Decide for yourself if there is a better answer to bone vitality by ask4facts

5 Stars
September 09, 2009
The authors offer their insights on osteoporosis after reviewing over 1,200 research articles on the topic. And they tell readers how to find that literature, or will actually send you copies of all of it for a fee that covers their expenses. This strengthens their positions that the commonly held beliefs to drink your milk, eat your dairy products or take a calcium supplement to prevent or treat osteoporosis are not based upon a preponderance of research findings. As an alternative they explain that we have developed a diet that is high in protein (especially animal protein) and low in fruits and vegetables. This leads to a chronic state of metabolic acidosis (an acid condition within the blood stream), which the body treats by resorbing bone to neutralize (buffer) the acid condition. Over time this chronic loss of small amounts of bone calcium can lead to low bone mineral density, osteopenia or osteoporosis, with increased risk of fracture. They cite several research articles that have noted this association, in particular, the one by Lynda A. Frassetto, Karen M. Todd, R. Curtis Morris, Jr. and Anthony Sebastian, which found a direct correlation between increased animal protein intake and increased hip fracture risk. They also found a correlation between increased vegetable intake and decreased hip fracture risk. This article is available online for free at [...]. The diagrams of these correlations in the article are proof that a picture is worth a thousand words. The second part of the program to prevent or treat osteoporosis is through weight bearing exercise. They also show the abundance of research that backs this up as an effective method. A highlight of the book is the discussion about the various types of research that scientists perform with explanations as to the power and strength of each type of research. This includes such research as retrospective and cross-section trials, and prospective studies; bone density studies; meta-analysis, etc. The book's prescription for bone health is to eat a low-acid diet, one that reduces intake of animal protein while increasing intake of fruits and vegetables. And they suggest simple methods and recipes for how to do this without drastic changes for most people. If you need another reason to reduce or stop eating meat, they include a summary of "Livestock's Long Shadow" to show the huge negative impact on the planet of raising animals for food. It is eye-opening. Included are tips regarding proper weight-bearing exercise to maximize the skeletal benefit. In addition to the weight-bearing effect of exercise on the bone itself, they point out that it increases muscle strength thereby reducing the risk of a fracture-producing fall. There is a discussion on the contribution to bone health of many other vitamins and minerals other than calcium and vitamin D which explains how these are a natural by-product of a diet high in fruits and vegetables. No need for supplements other than possibly vitamin B12 for strict vegans. Although the book shows a preponderance of the research backs the positions the authors recommend, they admit we don't have all the answers yet. There is need for strong clinical research that shows in humans that the low-acid diet and weight-bearing exercise reduce or eliminate loss of bone mineral density, and preferably also increase it. And, most importantly, that the approach outlined in the book also decreases fractures. Ideally doing so equally or better than FDA-approved medications which are expensive and have side effects, some of which are serious. The book is important and I'd recommend it to anyone with osteoporosis, or who wants to avoid getting it, by using a simple dietary and exercise approach that is based upon scientific research. That research is listed topic-by-topic for you to read yourself if you doubt the authors' conclusions.

This book will change your mind about preventive bone health! by Anne B. Simons

5 Stars
August 03, 2009
I'm a family practitioner in practice for over 20 years and I found this book refreshingly thought-provoking. I'm also a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed with osteoporosis and put on prescription medication based solely on bone density studies. I like to think I keep up to date on the medical literature by reading journals and attending continuing education, but I was shocked and amazed by the sheer number of studies cited in this book (and rarely if ever mentioned in those journals and courses) that challenge the conventional wisdom on bone health. While the authors do not discount the usefulness of medication for some, their common sense advice on lifestyle as the key to "bulding bone vitality" is the most important news this decade for women, doctors and parents like me. I only wish I could get my daughter and younger women patients to read this book and follow its prescription!

Not quite as good as claimed by Catherine J. Morgan (Clarkesville, GA USA)

3 Stars
August 02, 2009
Eating lots of vegetables and fruits is certainly good for healthy bones, as is weight-bearing exercise. There's nothing revolutionary about this news. Nor is the idea new that calcium is the main way to build bones. I've read other books advancing the "alkaline food theory" as the key to preventing or reversing osteoporosis, but I believe that building strong, resilient bones is more complicated than that. For example, more recent research shows that prunes are much more effective in reversing osteoporosis than raisins -- yet this book's chart shows that by the alkaline theory, raisins should be more effective. Also, judging fracture rates by country isn't a fine enough analysis; fracture rates WITHIN China vary a lot, with vitamin K2 apparently a key factor (but probably not the ONLY factor). Also, just adding up the number of studies pro and con various factors (protein, calcium, etc.) doesn't take into account the way the studies were done. The longterm Harvard nutritional study of nurses relies a lot on the subjects' memory of what they ate, and how much of it -- the least reliable type of study. Most nutritional studies are like this -- so it's not surprising that there are so many conflicting conclusions. Aside from the fact that this book doesn't present anything really new, and overgeneralizes, it's OK. Just don't take it as enough by itself. And if you take medications or have any medical problems, do more research before dramatically increasing the amount of potassium and fiber you take in. See the "Contraindications and Precautions in the Alkaline Diet" section on page 515 of "Food and Nutrients in Disease Management" by Ingrid Kohlstadt, which you can preview at Google Books.Food and Nutrients in Disease Management

best book on bone health out there by sdeanrd@aol.com (FL, USA)

5 Stars
July 26, 2009
Yes, there are alot of books out there on bone health. But put them all aside and clear your book shelves because you'll only need one book now and that is Building Bone Vitality. The authors are impeccable with backing up every word with thousands of scientific papers steeped in evidence based research. Very important table to check out - Table 7.1 - The Effect of Common Foods on Acidity of Urine. What I especially enjoy is that not only is it informative for the layperson but health professionals such as myself also learn about a subject that seems to be all over the map in terms of solid scientific recommendations. Overall, easy read, super informative, inexpensive price. 5 stars!

A Must Read for Anyone with Bones by Liz Stover (Fayetteville, AR)

5 Stars
July 17, 2009
This is my best accidental find of the year. I stumbled across Dr. Lanou's book while exploring the UNC Asheville Web site and was immediately drawn into the topic as I have long suspected that milk may indeed not do a body good. If you can get past the generic cover with an overused stock photo, you will find a wealth of information to make your bones happy and healthy. The spirit of the book is definitely green and leafy. For anyone interested in just the facts without a lot of hype, this book will not disappoint you. You'll also find several great recipes if you're baffled as to how you can possibly survive without meat and dairy. There are no mysteries about how conclusions were made, as the authors provide a full list of references which are cited throughout the book. The text is easy to read and stays focused on the task at hand. I read the entire book on a plane ride (2 hours on the runway assisted)and I am anxiously awaiting the author's next publication.

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