Jain Study Center NC Raleigh 1999 08 Twenty Years

SR No.: 528542
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Study Center NC Raleigh
Publisher: USA Jain Study Center NC Raleigh
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 122
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Souvenir Jain Center NC Raleigh, & USA
File Size: 15 MB

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The protein in animal products (such as milk, cheese or meat) is more acidic than the vegetable protein. The body neutralizes extra acid associated with animal protein by drawing calcium from bones. This causes calcium deficiency in the bones causing diseases like osteoporosis for the people who consume dairy or meat products. Also their kidneys have to work harder to remove the waste of calcium that leached from bones to blood. The net result is that the people who consume animal base high-protein diet lose the calcium from their bones and also their kidneys are more susceptible to fail.
Vegetarians get enough protein from their diet but not excess. Also the vegetable protein is less acidic than animal protein, hence it does not leach more calcium from bones. So the calcium absorbed by consuming dark green vegetables and various other vegetarian sources is maintained at a much healthier rate by the bones. The end result is vegetarians who get their calcium from non-animal sources such as dark green vegetables develop stronger bones, but not weaker ones. Hence they do not find calcium in their urine.
Many scientific evidences indicated that milk is not essential for strong bones. Countries that get their calcium from plant sources tend to have stronger bones.
However one should remember that thinning of the bones occur among older people regardless they consume the milk or not. This problem is more severe among the older people who use dairy and animal products. This is due to the protein effect (large amount of protein in diet and calcium is leached out) as indicated above. Postmenopausal women are particularly at risk for osteoporosis. Milk does not seem to protect the bones of the older people.
In conclusion vegetarians get enough calcium and protein as long as they eat good variety of plant foods such as dark green vegetables in sufficient quantities to maintain their natural weight. They are less susceptible to osteoporosis, and the failure of their kidneys.
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 is needed for healthy blood and healthy nerve. However body needs only 2 micro gram of B-12 per day. Vitamin B-12 is not produced by plants or by animals but it is produced by the bacteria in the digestive system.
Human can produce B-12 in their digestive system but some how human body can not absorb B12 from its digestive system. However the cows can absorb easily vitamin B-12 produced by the bacteria in their digestive system. Hence there exist lots of vitamin B-12 in meat and dairy products.
If you are a vegan (absolutely no animal products), you may not be able to get enough vitamins B-12. However if you decide to get B-12 from animal products, you will also get whapping dose of cholesterol and fat, which will displace complex carbohydrate and fiber that body needs which are the sources of vegetarian diet.
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