Most people know that eating a vegetarian diet decreases the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancers.  It’s also pretty well accepted that vegetarians are typically leaner and healthier.  But women experience yet another benefit from a vegetarian diet.

The body excretes more calcium, oxalate, and uric acid when a person has a diet high in animal protein, and these three substances are the main components of urinary tract stones.

British researchers advise that people with a tendency to form kidney stones should follow a vegetarian diet to reduce the excretion of calcium and, thereby, the risk of developing kidney stones. The American Academy of Family Physicians concurs with the British researchers, and blames high animal protein intake for the high incidence of kidney stones in the United States and other developed countries.  They recommend protein restriction for the prevention of recurrent kidney stones.

Vegetarians are at a lower risk for osteoporosis for the same reason.  Since animal products cause calcium to be forced out of the body, and calcium is required for good bone health, eating meat can promote bone loss.  In countries where the diet is mainly vegetarian (and without the calcium from dairy products), osteoporosis is less common than in the U.S.  

Calcium is important, but there is no need to get calcium from dairy products or inferior calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis.  By eliminating animal products from our diet we reduce the excretion of calcium and we can easily supplement calcium intake from natural products like black-eyed peas, kidney beans, and black beans.  Dark leafy vegetables like broccoli and kale are good natural sources of calcium, as is Tofu.

Doesn’t it make more sense to get your calcium from a healthier diet?