Calcium is essential for healthy bone growth but 6.8 stone Gillian had the body of a child and eating habits to match. Gillian was a fussy eater whose refusal of most calcium rich foods and 350 calorie a day diet of Fizzy diet drinks, starved her body.
On top of her periods stopping and having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 17 when the average is 20-25, Gillian’s diet left her at risk of Osteoporosis, a condition that affects bone strength.
To check the condition of her bones Dr Jessen sent Gillian for a bone density scan at the Princess Grace Hospital where they found that although her back was in good condition, 24 year old Gillian’s hips resembled those of a sixty year old.
To help repair the damage Gillian had to put her fussy habits to one side and start choosing calcium rich foods. The main sources of calcium are dairy products including milk, cheese, soya and tofu. Other sources of calcium include leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and curly kale, whole canned fish with soft bones, almonds and brazil nuts.
