Please read this before you rush out to buy CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS !!!

Most people think calcium is all you need for strong bones. Let me bust this myth that states that Calcium is all that you need for strong bones. It’s not true even though the Dairy industry says “Drink your milk for strong bones!” It’s just not true. It’s a sales gimmick.

But here’s the truth you really should know:

Calcium is important, yes, but it’s only one piece of the bone-health puzzle.

So when you’re told you need more calcium, don’t rush out to buy a supplement. Also, most calcium supplements are nothing but crap, are ineffective and harmful in the long run.

Your body needs calcium but not alone. It needs other minerals to balance it out and stop adverse effects.

When you take calcium without the right co-factors like magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin K2, that extra calcium doesn’t always go to your bones where it’s needed but to unwanted places and damages your health.

Sadly, it can end up in your arteries, joints, or kidneys instead, causing more damage to your health.

1. The arteries: It causes arterial calcification which is the hardening of arteries. This increases cardiovascular risk.

2. Kidneys: It can cause kidney stones which can be very painful.

3. Joints: It can lead to joint stiffness and pain.

4. Digestive system: It can cause bloating, constipation, and gas.

Real bone health requires more than calcium, contrary to what’s being promoted by the dairy industry.

Your bones rely on a combination of nutrients and lifestyle factors.

Key nutrients for bone health:

1. Vitamin D3 is needed for proper absorption of calcium. Without vitamin D, your body can’t properly absorb calcium from food or supplements. To make it easier to understand, see Vitamin D as the gatekeeper that lets calcium into your bloodstream.
Note: if supplementing with vitamin D, it must be D3 not D1 or D2.

2. Vitamin K2 helps to carry absorbed calcium into your bones and not into your arteries. K2 tells calcium where to go. It moves calcium into your bones and teeth and keeps it out of your arteries and joints, thus preventing dangerous calcification.
K2 is different from K1 and their food sources and functions are different too.

3. Magnesium helps activate the whole process. Magnesium helps activate vitamin D (that means taking magnesium when supplementing with D3) and it keeps calcium in check. Low magnesium results in calcium buildup where you don’t want it, leading to stiffness in your joints and kidney stones. Magnesium must be the right salt.
Most magnesium in shops are useless, for example magnesium oxide.

Lifestyle factors for healthy bones includes:

1. Weight-bearing exercise to strengthen bone tissue.

2. Sunshine.

Health Benefits of Calcium:

1. For stronger bones and teeth: It builds and maintains healthy bone density.

2. For muscle function: It supports the contraction of your smooth muscles, which includes your heart.

3. For nerve communications: It helps your brain and body communicate effectively.

4. For hormone and enzyme regulation: Our hormones and enzymes are important for many body functions and they need calcium to function well. This plays a role in metabolism and energy production.

Taking too much calcium from supplements without the balance from K2, D3 and magnesium can cause more harm than good. Though calcium is one of the most essential minerals in your body, how you get it matters.
That’s why getting calcium from food first is always best.

Here are top natural food sources of calcium:

1. Dairy: Milk, yogurt, and cheese are rich in calcium and it’s easily absorbed from these sources.

2. Plant-based options: I prefer plant-based and seafood sources as I now avoid dairy as much as possible. If I take dairy, it must be organic and from cows that are grass-fed and free from hormones and antibiotics.

Dark leafy greens such as kale, bok choy, and collard greens.

Broccoli and okra: I love both. Broccoli must only be slightly cooked or steamed to retain its nutrients. I consume it raw and steamed. Broccoli and other members of the cruciferous family have powerful anticancer benefits. Okra is very high in fiber.

Almonds and sesame seeds: They are better eaten raw than roasted.

Tofu made with calcium sulphate: I only consume fermented organic soya products like tempeh because they are safer and being organic makes them non-GMO.

Fortified plant milks such as almond, soy, or oat. However, ensure they are 100% of the nut and not 12% like most shop-bought ones. For example, 100% almond milk, not 12% almond in almond milk. Make yours at home like I do.

3. Seafood: Sardines and salmon (with bones). I love salmon such as wild Alaskan salmon and sardines.
Shrimps: I don’t eat them but I won’t delve into that now.

Here’s how to get more calcium from your calcium-rich foods. They help guarantee better absorption.

Pair calcium-rich foods with:

1. Vitamin D from sunlight or foods like eggs, salmon, and sardines.

2. Vitamin K2 from natto which is fermented, egg yolks, and grass-fed dairy to guide calcium into your bones, not your arteries.

3. Magnesium from nuts, seeds, and leafy greens to keep calcium in proper balance.

For example, steamed broccoli with salmon for vitamin D, plus natto or egg, cheese, or chicken for vitamin K2. Then add nuts and seeds or a leafy green salad for magnesium.