Despite what we’ve long been told by mainstream medicine, osteoporosis is not simply a “calcium deficiency disease” or even a hormone deficiency disorder.
Americans take in more calcium than any other people on the planet these days and we also have the highest rate of osteoporosis and bone loss. It simply doesn’t add up.
As I discuss in my book, Radical Longevity, there are a number of pieces to the bone health puzzle. In this blog, I highlight a number of these elements and go into even further details in chapter 13 of the book.
Calcium is important, but in the right amounts, balanced with other key minerals like magnesium. I will always remember the bone-chilling words of nutrition detective Nan Fuchs, Ph who shared this explanation with me:
Magnesium, not calcium, helps prevent osteoporosis. High calcium intake causes bones to form that are brittle. Magnesium causes bones to form that are strong and flexible. We need plenty of magnesium, and enough, but not too much, calcium.
The comparison of chalk and ivory is a great way to illustrate this bone-building concept:
Chalk is pure calcium carbonate (a common osteoporosis supplement ingredient). Ivory, on the other hand, contains calcium with magnesium. If you drop a piece of chalk, it will break. The same size piece of ivory would bounce. I think it’s safe to say we want our bones to be more like ivory than chalk!
It is also important that any calcium you do take be absorbed and transported into the bones instead of arteries and soft tissues. This is impossible unless you have enough vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 has the ability to activate dozens of proteins that otherwise float around in your blood.
One such protein is osteocalcin, a bone-regulating protein that requires vitamin K2 to bind calcium to your bones, making them strong and healthy. Without vitamin K2, osteocalcin remains inactive and the calcium supplements you take don’t actually end up in your bones where they belong.
In this blog, I’ll dive deeper into these concepts as well as discuss other minerals and nutrients for bone health that are frequently overlooked:
The Fun Way to Strengthen Aging Bones
Women over 50 are more at risk of fracturing a hip than getting cancer, according to research from the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Luckily, the best workout for your bones doesn’t require spending hours in the gym — and it’s fun!
To encourage bone growth and prevent further bone loss, all you have to do is jump! The impact coaxes more calcium into bones, significantly increasing bone density. For best results, do three sets of 10 hops each day, keeping a chair nearby for stability, if needed.
The Must-Have Mineral for Strong Bones
In this short video clip, I share the missing mineral you may have overlooked when it comes to bone health and the daily snack that can make sure you’re getting enough.
The Bone Broth Phenomenon
In this podcast episode, I interview Dr. Kellyann Petrucci, creator of the Bone Broth Diet. We dive into the time-tested benefits of bone broth including its highly nutritional makeup and its amazing efficacy for many functions in the body including bone and collagen building.
The Ultimate Bone Support Formula
I designed Osteo-Key to contain all of the most important bone-building nutrients at the recommended levels. Osteoporosis is not simply a “calcium deficiency” problem or even a hormone deficiency disorder. Research on the roles of vitamin K and vitamin D has shown the importance of these vitamins for calcium transport into the bones.
Osteo-Key contains highly-absorbable calcium from MCHA, magnesium in a 1:1 ratio, vitamin D3 and complete vitamin K complex, boron, silica, manganese and zinc.
Kathlyn says, “After a year of taking Osteo-Key, I went in for my annual physical, my bone density had improved. That’s exactly what I was hoping for!”
Tracy says, “I broke the metatarsal bone in my foot almost 5 weeks ago. Two weeks after, the x-ray showed no healing and possible surgery. I was discouraged, so I doubled up on vitamin D and started Osteo-Key 3x a day. I had another x-ray two weeks later and my doctor was thrilled because it is 75% healed. I’m ahead of schedule and won’t need surgery. I showed him Osteo-Key and he told me to keep taking it because it’s working. UNI KEY products are like no other!”
Radical Longevity
This book is a powerful plan to sharpen your brain, strengthen your body, and reverse the symptoms of aging with a complete section on bone health!
