Bad news fellow carb lovers – studies suggest that too many grain foods lead to bone and muscle loss by creating an acid load in the body.  Kidney function declines as we age, so the body can’t easily handle the extra acid load created by bread, rice, and, sadly, rolled oats.  Fruits and vegetables neutralize the high-acid foods, especially raisins, apricots, bananas, kiwi fruit, spinach and zucchini, so be sure and throw some raisins in your oatmeal and jack up the produce consumption.  Lean protein like chicken, turkey, and cottage cheese have other benefits but are also high in acid, so don’t go crazy with those either.  Bottom line for bones = fruits, vegetables & most beans, not grains and proteins.  Researchers are studying the use of potassium bicarbonate to alkalinize the body and results have been good in bone turnover and muscle retention.  Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) has too much calcium-leaching salt for most over-50’s to use for this purpose.