Nancy Dell: Prevent Osteoporosis; Risks of Being Pear-shaped

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) -  

1. My family has a strong history of osteoporosis. Is taking calcium enough to keep my bones healthy?
JP, Internet

For years experts recommended calcium as the best way to prevent osteoporosis; more recently, the University of North Carolina reviewed 136 trials on calcium and osteoporosis, they found that two-thirds of the studies showed that a high calcium intake does not reduce the number of fractures.

Instead, eating fruits and vegetables improved bone density in a whopping 85 percent of studies. Calcium is still important. Think of calcium as the bricks in a brick wall of bones. But the mortar that holds the bricks together is made up of 16 other nutrients. Without the mortar, the bricks, or the bones, can't hold themselves up.

If you eat mostly refined flour, dairy and meat, your blood becomes more acidic. To neutralize the acid, your body pulls calcium out of the bones. Just like as if you were to take a Tums, which is calcium, to neutralize heartburn.

Less calcium in the bone means it is more likely to fracture. If you eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables, your blood is more alkaline and there is no need to pull calcium out of the bone. Experts say you should eat two and a half cups of fruits and vegetables for every for every 3 ounces of meat fish or poultry you eat.

An easy way to do this is to make half your plate produce, one quarter lean protein and 1/4 whole grain.

2. I am a little overweight but I am pear-shaped. Do I still need to worry about heart disease and diabetes?
Lynn, Internet

We used to say that only apple-shaped people who carry their weight around their waist were at risk for many diseases. Now a new study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism finds in some people, fat stored in the buttocks pumps out abnormal levels of two proteins associated with high blood pressure, low good cholesterol, high bad cholesterol and diabetes.

Researchers say one day we may be able to test the release of these proteins to see which pear-shaped people are at risk for disease. In the meantime, whether you are apple or pear shaped, reaching a healthy body fat is a good idea.