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Health Information
The first thing that comes to mind when you think
about building strong bones is Calcium. No doubt Calcium is critical, but did
you know there are several other nutrients critical to the formation of bone?
Even though the ratio of women who develop osteoporosis is 5 times more than
men, it’s still important we all think about what we can do to prevent bone
loss as we age. With our chances of living to an advanced age better than
ever, the chance of losing bone also becomes higher. We lose bone mass as we
age.
So what kind of nutrients are needed to
nurture our bones? You might be surprised to learn there are six minerals
and three vitamins all critical for building good bones.
Calcium
Yes,
calcium is the most important mineral for bones. It is the essential mineral
needed to form good bone strength. Lose calcium and osteoporosis develops.
Current recommendations are for adults over 50 to get 1200 mg of calcium
daily. The usual American diet gives us about half our daily calcium needs.
Supplementing the rest is crucial.
Magnesium
If
we don’t get the right amount of magnesium, bone strength is less. Chronic
magnesium deficiency can also lead to osteoporosis. The normal American diet
gives us about 70% of the daily recommended amount.
Zinc
This
mineral helps with the absorption of calcium into our system. Vitamin D works
best in regulating calcium and building good bone when zinc is present. About
90% of the U.S. population gets less than the recommended 15 mg of zinc
through diet alone.
Copper
Here’s
another mineral necessary for the proper formation of collagen and connective
tissue, both important to proper bone function. About half of the US
population gets the recommended amount of 2 mg of copper daily.
Manganese
This
mineral is a key ingredient for proper bone, cartilage, and collagen
formation. Again the average diet usually does not give us the recommended
daily amount of magnesium.
Boron
Boron
helps both calcium and vitamin D in its metabolic process of actual bone
formation. Even though we don't need much in our daily diet, chances are you
are not getting the recommended amount.
Besides the minerals three vitamins also is
a “must have” for good bones
Vitamin D
This
vitamin regulates the calcium and phosphorus metabolism, the process that
actually makes bone. Without vitamin D our bodies do not absorb calcium and
phosphorus properly, leading to osteoporosis. We need at least 400 IU of
Vitamin D daily. The typical US diet provides us with 100 IU or less. Sun
exposure helps, but the elderly especially usually get little sun exposure. We
need a supplement.
Vitamin C
This
vitamin is crucial in many metabolic processes in our bodies, One of which is
the proper formation of strong bone and collagen. The recommended daily
allowance is really not high at 60 mg, but the average diet often doesn't
provide even that amount.
Vitamin K
Vitamin
K helps with repair and formation of bone. We need vitamin K for binding
calcium to essential bone proteins like osteocalcin. Highly processed foods
tend to take out vitamin K, and the use of broad spectrum antibiotics can
reduce the amount of vitamin K we absorb in our intestinal tract.
So here is the "take home" message. Good
bone strength is much more complicated than just calcium and vitamin D.
Fortunately Unicity reformulated their BoneMate
Plus formula to provide all nine of the nutrients we need for strong
bones. They took into account the latest science on what form of each vitamin
and mineral is best absorbed by the body. That's important in making sure the
nutrients actually get into the system.
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