Clearly the problem is not that we are not getting enough calcium, but that it is not getting absorbed.
Science has named these factors as the main causes of calcium excretion:
- Smoking
- Air pollution (city living)
- Excess alcohol (one glass of wine can raise the amount of calcium excreted in the urine from the average 5mg up to 25mg)
- Excess sugar and refined carbohydrates
- Excess protein in the diet (mostly from excess meat)
- Excess caffeine (mostly in the form of coffee, soft drinks and caffeine pills. One cup of coffee can raise the excretion of calcium up to 75mg through urine)
- Phosphoric acid (comes mostly from soda) will cause the bones to leach out calcium.
- Stress will cause calcium excretion. In a relaxed state we generally release 5-10mg of calcium in our urine. A momentary stressful moment can cause for up to 75mg to be released.
What does this mean?
This is NOT about never having a glass of wine or never experiencing stress. However if we tend to have a couple of glasses of wine, a couple of coffees, a sugary snack, and we’re a little high-strung, these things add up on a daily basis.
Dairy Products:
For over 35 years research has shown that calcium from dairy products is more poorly absorbed than calcium from leafy greens, nuts, and seeds. While dairy might have other benefits, it is not optimal for calcium absorption. Unfortunately due to the dairy lobbyists, this is not what the general public is taught.
(To read more about calcium and dairy, read the article Truth or Dairy.)
Calcium Supplements:
Most calcium supplements are made form calcium carbonate. This is the calcium found in limestone, chalk, and rocks. It is the same calcium that is mixed in the plaster on our walls. The body can only absorb up to 10% of it.
The Relaxation Response:
Bone density has been proven to increase with mental relaxation. Most of us function on a low level of stress throughout our entire day. This low-grade stress is the most commonly linked source of dis-ease.
Healing always begins with relaxing.
Related Article:
Food For Healing Broken Bones
1 comment:
Thanks for this article. We all tend to drink too much coffee and drink too much wine. So, moderation is key and don't forget to keep almonds around for a great snack!
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