(Fractured Femur)
Hi all,
I was on vacation last weekend hence the delay. In this part 3 of the blog we’ll look at mineral balance and optimal environment for bone health.
In part two, I mentioned essential fatty acids, an important element in transporting calcium into tissues, including bones. Magnesium is also noted as a significant helper for calcium absorption. What I did not mention is phosphorus, which is crucial because of its balancing action with calcium. Phosphorus is the 2nd most abundant mineral in the body, just behind calcium. 85% of phosphorus is found in the bones, indicating its usefulness as a partner for calcium utilization. However, a proper balance between phosphorus and calcium must be achieved to assure optimal bone health.
When we look at a blood test, we often pay too much attention to quantity, but not balance between each element. You can have a normal blood test with an imbalanced mineral ratio, so bone density continues to drop with a good blood test. The ideal ratio of calcium versus phosphorus in the blood is 10:4. Disruption of this ratio can have tremendous ill-effects on the body.
For example, when there is insufficient phosphorus (ie. 10:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio), calcium has to be dumped into tissues to restore the ratio, causing bone spurs and tartars on the teeth. Arthritics often will have this pattern.
On the othe hand, when there is too much phosphorus (ie. 10:7 calcium to phosphorus ratio), calcium has to be ‘borrowed’ from the bone, causing osteoporosis. Next time you get a blood test, ask for a copy so you can see if you have a potential calcium/phosphorus imbalance.
Nowadays, the #1 source for excessive phosphorus intake is soft drinks. So when you give your child Coke, you are giving them loads of sugar plus phosphoric acid, predisposing them to diabetes and ostoporosis. Think about that.
Finally, the ideal environment for calcium absorption in the gut is Acidic. People with an alkaline gut is looking for dysbiosis (bad bacteria in the gut) and decreased ability to absorb calcium. So obviously, TUMS is not your best source of calcium. To ensure best absorption, I either have my patients take Calcium Lactate from Standard Process, which is made in an acidic medium, or make sure they regularly take Apple Cider Vinegar or Zypan (betaine HCL, Standard Process).
In our next and final part, I will sum up a good protocol for optimal bone health!
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