Healthful tips offered at Morning Glory Herbs

Monthly Health Tip for July 2008

Getting the Calcium Your Body and Bones Need

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, so we do need large amounts of it. However, just taking a calcium supplement alone won’t insure we’re getting calcium into our bones and tissues. So, the question naturally arises: what is the best way to get the calcium we need?

Dairy products are widely promoted as a good source of calcium. However, countries with the highest incidences of osteoporosis and bone fractures are also the countries that consume the most dairy products, which shoots that idea down. Part of the problem is pasteurization. Pasteurization destroys the enzymes and many nutrients present in whole milk that help calcium to be absorbed and utilized by the body.

Also, unlike calves, humans do not have the enzyme to separate a molecule called casein from the calcium in cow’s milk. So, although there is a lot of calcium in dairy, it isn’t efficiently absorbed. The best dairy sources of calcium are cultured dairy foods (like yoghurt) because the lactobacillus bacteria they contain make the nutrients easier to assimilate.

Calcium carbonate (chalk) is the cheapest and most abundant form of calcium and can come from dolomite, oyster shell or coral. It is the form of calcium found in Tums and other antacids. This form of calcium is a quick alkalizer, but is poorly absorbed and utilized in bones and other tissues.

Bone meal from New Zealand isn’t contaminated with lead and can supply calcium and other trace minerals needed for healthy bones as long as have good stomach acid production and digestive function. NSP’s CALCIUM PLUS VITAMIN D contains New Zealand bone meal. You can also get bone calcium from canned pink salmon and canned sardines, because the bones are cooked with the meat and become soft enough to eat.

Another great way to get calcium (and bone-building minerals and nutrients) is to make your own soup broth from the bones of chicken, fish or beef. The nutrient-rich broth will contain everything you need for healthy bones and connective tissues.

However, if you want to get the best source of calcium, take a lesson from the cows. Where do they get their calcium? They get it from the grass and green leafy foods they consume. The most easily assimilated and utilized form of calcium is that found in dark leafy green vegetables such as collards greens, spinach, turnip greens, beet greens and Chinese cabbage.

Herbal greens such as wheat grass, barley grass, nettles, dandelion leaf, alfalfa and oat straw are also good sources of calcium. For this reason, consider using HERBAL CA or HSN-W as a supplement to increase calcium absorption and improve bone health.

If you want a calcium supplement, consider NSP’S SKELETAL STRENGTH which supplies vitamins, trace minerals and other nutrients along with calcium to make it more easily assimilated and utilized. You’ll get far more benefit from calcium when it is combined with other nutrients either in whole foods or supplements.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BONE HEALTH,

ATTEND OUR FIRST HEALTH TALK

ON TUESDAY, JULY 15TH AT 6:30-7:30PM

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