Sticks And Stones Can Break Your Bones … But So Can the Wrong Calcium

My pharmacy training taught me many things that’s for sure. The importance of vitamins and minerals was certainly emphasized and their lack was strongly linked to many disease states.

The need to ensure adequate calcium levels for good bone health was particularly highlighted.

The dairy industry does a tremendously good job of educating the public to believe that dairy is the only way we can obtain calcium. The pharmaceutical industry does an even better job in suggesting that supplementing with traditional calcium tablets is both beneficial and necessary if dairy intake is low or if bone density tests show signs of osteoporosis.

I’m here to tell you that both these points are lies.

Now that you have fallen off your chair or gasped in horror, let me explain myself further.

Bones do need calcium, that’s true. But bones are not just calcium.

Calcium and phosphorus are the most abundant minerals in your bones, together forming insoluble calcium phosphate crystals (mainly as hydroxyapatite). About 65% of adult bone mass is hydroxyapatite. 

Other minerals stored in your bones include magnesium, sodium, fluoride, potassium, manganese, silica, iron, zinc, selenium, boron, fluoride, sulphur, and chromium.

Along with minerals, bone is composed of an organic matrix composed primarily of the collagen (a protein) which provides flexibility. Adult bone mass is 10% collagen.

Surprisingly, water comprises approximately 25% of adult bone mass also.

So, bones are actually made up of minerals, collagen, and water.

BEST DIETARY CALCIUM?

It’s true that dairy is rich in calcium, but as I have just explained, bones are more than just calcium alone. My main concern with dairy as a supplement for good bone health is that it is highly inflammatory to the body as a side effect. Inflammation weakens our gut, which in turn weakens our overall immunity (since 70% of immune system lives in the gut). Any possible benefits of obtaining calcium via dairy are soon diminished by the development of disease states that thrive in inflammatory conditions.

Many autoimmune disorders are a result of inflammation and ironically this also includes osteoporosis and osteoarthritis (recognized autoimmune conditions).

So dairy products can actually create POOR BONE HEALTH long-term rather than prevent it since chronic inflammation can lead to weakened bones.

Calcium can certainly be obtained from more healthier options which are dairy-free. These include:

goat’s milk products: goat’s milk, goat’s cheese (eg feta), goat’s yoghurt

Goat’s milk supplies 327 milligrams of calcium/cup (whole-fat cow’s milk has 276 milligrams of calcium/cup). One cup of goat’s milk also contains 271mg phosphorus, 498mg potassium, 487 i.u of vitamin A and 124 i.u of vitamin D.

coconut products: coconut yoghurt (average serve contains 25-30% RDI of calcium), coconut milk

brassica vegetables: broccoli, kale, cabbage, bok choy, Brussels’ sprouts, cauliflower

dark leafy greens: kale, turnip greens, dandelion greens, mustard greens, beet greens

fish: sardines, pink salmon, shrimp

– beans & legumes

amaranth grain

okra

nuts & seeds: almonds, sesame seeds, chia seeds

fruit: prunes, raisins, dried figs, oranges, kiwi, rhubarb, prickly pears

seaweed

mineral water

herbal teas: nettle leaf, red clover

DON’T FORGET ABOUT COLLAGEN

There is no better way to ensure we get enough collagen into our body than enjoying a good bone broth. Bone broth is full of gelatin and collagen, both super healing to our gut, skin, joints, and especially bones.

Making bone broth is cheap and easy, but you can also purchase high-quality bone broth if you prefer. Aim for broths that have been cooked for 12 hours or more to ensure they are nutrient rich.

I also recommend collagen powder as the perfect addition to one’s diet. It’s unflavoured and can be added to any food or drink with ease.

WHAT ABOUT CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS?

Traditional calcium supplements available to consumers generally only contain single ingredients such as calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, calcium gluconate, calcium lactate and microcrystalline hydroxyapatite concentrate.

You may not like where they are sourced, however. They are usually from marble, eggshells, snail shells, seashells, along with animal bones. Worse yet, their absorption rate can be a dismally low 1-9%, which means most of the product remains in excess supply in the body and does not reach the bone.

On a side note, consumers are often told to take their calcium supplements in the morning along with vitamin D, although calcium should be taken at night for best absorption rates.

Regardless of what form you take, calcium supplements should always be balanced with magnesium. Generally, the rule is one part magnesium to two parts calcium.

While calcium is clearly important, there are at least 19 other key nutrients that each play a vital role in the structural integrity and overall health of our bones. The major players are vitamin D, vitamin K, and magnesium.

Vitamin D levels need to be checked, and if low, supplementation given until a level of 150 nmol/L is obtained (best level to manage chronic disease states).

I cannot reinforce the importance of correct stomach acid levels enough.

The body’s innate ability to absorb calcium will vary significantly from one person to the next, based mainly on their stomach acid level. Low stomach acid (often a result of stress) leads to poor calcium absorption and encourages a state of calcium excess within the body.

In our society today, this would have to be the most important factor in disease progression. Low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) prevents the absorption of many vitamins (such as vitamin B12), minerals (such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron), and protein (providing vital amino acids).

Symptoms of low stomach acid include gas, bloating, burping after meals, acid reflux or heartburn, difficulty swallowing pills, nausea after taking supplements, prolonged fullness after eating, and undigested food in stools.

The trouble with supplementing with only calcium products is that it leads to relative deficiencies in the other minerals needed for healthy bones, further worsening the calcium imbalance, leading to a dangerous “calcium cascade” of events.

THE CALCIUM CASCADE

The trouble with supplementing with only calcium products is that it leads to relative deficiencies in the other minerals needed for healthy bones, further worsening the calcium imbalance, leading to a dangerous 20 step ‘calcium cascade’ of events and ultimately, chronic disease (shown in the chart below).

SO WHAT’S THE ANSWER THEN?

  1. Ever since refrigerators were invented and we stopped salting our food, we have become an increasingly mineral-deficient population. This has worsened by the constant reminder by the medical profession that we must keep our salt intake low to prevent cardiovascular disease.

If you want strong bones, you need strong stomach acid. To achieve that you need to INCREASE YOUR GOOD SALT INTAKE, which is primarily pink Himalayan salt or Celtic sea salt.

For further information, CLICK HERE to read my article “TO SALT? OR NOT TO SALT?”

Both of these salts contain over 80 minerals, which are well recognized by the body and readily absorbed.

2. Ensure you BALANCE YOUR CALCIUM INTAKE IF SUPPLEMENTING WITH MAGNESIUM also.

My preferred calcium supplement is a marine plant-based calcium (such as Green Calcium’ by Green Nutritionals) which is really a multi-mineral complex. It provides 72 other trace minerals, all contributing to bone health and general well-being.

It has a unique porous ‘honeycomb-like’ structure and the large surface area that allows for greater absorption and utilization of calcium in the body.

3. Another perfect supplement would definitely be Nettle Leaf tea. I encourage regular consumption of this mineral-rich tea. CLICK HERE to read my article “NETTLE LEAF TEA – NATURE’S NATURAL MULTIVITAMIN” for more information.

4. Make sure you INCLUDE BONE BROTH AND/OR COLLAGEN POWDER into your regular routine.

5. Lastly, DRINK PLENTY OF FILTERED WATER for well-nourished bones, since bones are 25% after all.

**If you’ve got this far – thank you for reading and I look forward to bringing you more information in the future.

Now, enjoy some much needed inspirational music…