My kids have this joke: say, “Silk, silk, silk, silk, silk.” (Silk, silk, silk, silk, silk.) What do cows drink? (Milk).
Ha, ha, ha. Cows drink water.
And they eat grass. So, where does all that calcium in milk come from? The grass. If you want strong bones, eat green food. Popeye had it right all along. Green vegetables, especially leafy greens, sardines, salmon, beans and almonds are all quality dietary sources of calcium.
The United States has the highest per capita consumption of dairy products in the world and we also have the highest rate of osteoporosis and bone related problems. We are given the impression that bone loss is simply a deficiency of dietary calcium and that calcium supplements are a sufficient solution. This isn’t quite true. An important factor is the bio-availability of calcium in the body, both from diet and supplements. The key factor is how calcium is metabolized and assimilated and it is not necessarily related to calcium consumption.
Quality calcium supplementation is important in dealing with bone loss. But, it must be balanced with magnesium, boron, potassium, folic acid, and vitamins C, D, E and K. Again, these nutrients are found in all fruits and vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables.
The wide array of supplements available can be quite confusing. A 600 milligram tablet of Calcium Lactate may only deliver 60 milligrams of absorbable, elemental calcium to the body. In general, anything in a tablet form is significantly less bio-available than anything in a capsule or powder form. Some typical supplements include:
Coral Calcium – highest percentage of elemental calcium (up to 97 percent)
naturally-balanced with additional, naturally occurring bio-available minerals.
Calcium Carbonate – 40 percent elemental calcium, not easily absorbed.
Calcium Phosphate – 30 percent elemental calcium bound with phosphorous
and vitamin D to help the body absorb the calcium.
Calcium Citrate – Around 21 percent elemental calcium, very easily absorbed.
Calcium Gluconate – nine percent elemental calcium can cause diarrhea and nausea.
Calcium Lactate – 13 percent elemental calcium bound with lactic acid.
Calcium Lactate Gluconate – 13 percent elemental calcium.
However, calcium supplements are only one part of the solution. Balancing supplementation with quality nutrition and a healthy lifestyle includes drinking two to three liters of water a day, balancing protein consumption with leafy green vegetables, gentle aerobic exercise (like walking or swimming) and weight-bearing exercise (like resistance training, yoga or pilates).
Healing Waters is hosting a Bone Loss Clinic on May 19th and June 23rd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To reserve your space at the Bone Loss Clinic or for more information about quality supplements and custom nutrition call Healing Waters at 661-755-0617 or visit www.HealingWatersValencia.com.