Loving Spoonful
It’s not just about milk anymore! Eating a variety of foods is key to building stronger bones.
Studies have proven that several nutrients, in addition to calcium, are valuable skeletal building blocks. In two studies, women who took calcium along with a wide variety of vitamins and minerals showed greater bone improvement compared with women who took calcium alone or with hormones (American Druggist, 1998, vol. 215). From aiding in bone formation to reducing urinary excretion of calcium, many nutrients?including magnesium, potassium, zinc, boron, manganese and vitamins A, C, D and K?play major roles in the fight against bone loss.
For optimal bone health, incorporate fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, enriched cereals, fish, eggs, legumes, whole grains and, of course, milk into your daily diet. If you use supplements, check that they contain bone-building nutrients. It’s a good idea to take separate supplements of vitamin C, magnesium and calcium, because a full day’s supply is not found in most multivitamins/minerals.
? Angela Christensen
