Comments on: Keep drinking the milk, girls (and guys ?)

By: Wren

Wren — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:12:28 +0000

I love almond milk–it tastes, to me, like moo juice except it’s not creamy–but I don’t particularly like to DRINK either. Just a nice splash on the ol’ cereal will do for me. Getting enough calcium is vital for all of us, though, and Vit. D, too. I was diagnosed with osteopenia a little over two years ago, My rheumatologist increased the dosage of the calcium supplement he’d put me on originally, along with adding Vit. D to the mix. I took both as ordered. But this year, when I had my bone scan, it showed that I now have osteoporosis. So now I’m taking Fosamax, too, along with the calcium and Vit. D supplements.

I’m 55. I guess my point here is to back you up, Polly. Ladies, make sure you’re getting plenty of calcium. Weight-bearing exercise like walking and gentle workouts with weights help to strengthen and build bone, too. So far, having osteoporosis on top of RA and bursitis hasn’t caused me any particular problem, but I’m aware now that I’m an excellent candidate for a broken wrist or hip. Bummer.

By: pollyannapenguin

pollyannapenguin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 07:20:26 +0000

Fantastic – glad to hear it. Almond milk is a new one on me – sounds pleasanter than soya milk, which IMO Is vile!

By: Timothy H

Timothy H — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:42:43 +0000

In my case, upon avoiding dairy (and gluten) and doing some other things, my RA symptoms dissipated to the point whereby I no longer need the smorgasboard of chemicals that I was being prescribed. Among many alternatives such as almond milk, I feel no lack staying away from dairy. If I had to pick between pain and no dairy, I opt for the latter.

By: pollyannapenguin

pollyannapenguin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:23:26 +0000

Righto – I’ll follow up my pint of milk with a pint of sardines then. Not such a bad idea, since they’re a good source of all those oils we arthriticy types should be having! (Well a pint might be a bad idea, but you know what I mean.)

Actually sardines and pilchards are the same thing!!

By: Maggie

Maggie — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:07:34 +0000

It’s also worth noting that your body also needs vitamin D in order to absorb calcium so make sure you get out in what little sunlight we have at this time of year!

There are some surprising alternative sources of calcium other than milk, so for anyone who is not so keen on cow juice how about almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, broccoli, spinach, watercress, dried apricots, dried figs, mackerel, pilchards, salmon, sardines, pulses and sesame seeds?!

Er, right, I’ll get off my nutritional soap box now… ;o)