We are always being told that we need our calcium with dairy being the “good” source. Instead of looking at all the other sources of calcium, trust me there are a lot of other better sources of calcium, let’s look at why we have a calcium problem. There must be a problem, because our elderly break their bones too easily and there is an increase in osteo-arthritis and osteoporosis. Why then, when society eats an abundance of calcium sources whether good or bad?
Has anyone every told you that there are foods that blocks calcium? Yup, there are lots and they tend to be the mainstay of the Standard American Diet (SAD). Let’s take a look and I will explain how.
If you drink coffee, soda pop or more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day, or have a high protein diet (this is the SAD with all the meat and meat products) the body becomes acidic. The body prefers and strives for an alkaline state. When it becomes acidic it will draw calcium from wherever it can get it (bones, teeth etc) to bring the body back to an alkaline state. This is called homeostasis.
If you are one of the 1.1 million Canadians with low levels of vitamin D, then the calcium you have/take cannot be absorbed properly in the digestive tract.
If you eat a lot of spinach, rhubarb, swiss chard, almonds, chocolate, carrots and other foods high in oxalate, you will not absorb the calcium. Oxalates bind with calcium and cancels it out.
There is a factor that does not seem to be mentioned when it comes to absorption of vitamins and minerals. Each vitamin and mineral needs their respective co-factors depending on what activity is to happen within the body. It is now usually stated that calciums’ co-factor is vitamin D, but if you are looking for bone health then you also have to add in magnesium, phosphorus,manganese, fluorine and the necessary vitamins. Nine times out of 10 it is lack of magnesium in the diet that causes brittle bones, not lack of calcium. We have far more calcium in our diets, not always good, then we realize. If you boil of your water and it leaves a white deposit, that is calcium.
I think you will find that it is not a lack of calcium which is causing brittle bones, but a serious lack of the co-factors to build strong bones, which is the magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, fluorine (too much, such as fluoridated water and toothpaste is toxic and causes mottling of the teeth) from the minerals and vitamins A, C and D. That is the basics, as each of these minerals and vitamins have co-factors that help with their absorption and assimilation for the function needed.