If you want healthy bones, all you need is calcium, right? That is the sum total of many people’s knowledge of bone health nutrition. Thousands of manufacturers of calcium supplements would happily have you believe that first statement. That alone should make you wary. When thousands of companies profit from a single widely-held belief, it’s probably time to question that belief.
Here is the truth. No calcium supplement, taken in the absence of other vitamins and minerals and without proper diet and exercise, has ever been proven in clinical studies to help you strengthen bones. The best that can be said is that calcium supplementation helps slow down or stop bone loss.†† While slowing bone loss is a great goal, it’s a far cry from making them stronger and healthier by increasing bone mineral density.
There are several factors that go into actually building bone mineral density or growing bone. The source of your calcium is a key factor. Did you know that most calcium supplements are ground-up rocks or oyster shells? Of equal importance to the source of calcium are a host of other vitamins, minerals and trace elements that help calcium achieve its ultimate goal in the body.