Strong Bones, Strong Body: maintain your bone health with SUPERFOODS

By Bonnie Pockley
Did you know that healthy bone is half as strong as steel in resisting compression and fully as strong as steel in resisting tension?1 Did you also know that the body leeches (resorbs) calcium from bones to control blood calcium levels as calcium is used in an extensive number of the body’s regulatory systems?

Bone ‘resorption’ in offset by bone ‘repair’ to the extent that our thigh bone, for example, is fully replaced every 6 months. The human body does not actually act to preserve the skeleton’s strength and wellbeing but to maintain blood-calcium homeostasis and without adequate nutritional intake our blood calcium levels drop dangerously. Extended periods of low blood calcium levels demineralise our bones so much that they develop large, punched-out-looking holes. Taking a calcium supplements is, however, problematic and will not improve the health of your bones. As calcium supplements are generally made of ground down shell and other hardened or ‘calcified’ forms of the mineral, the calcium content of most supplements isn’t readily available to your body for use. Further more, these forms of calcium actually cause calcification throughout the body, decrease flexibility and exacerbate inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.


Want to maintain functional strength as well as prevent osteoporosis, arthritis and other conditions relating to the deterioration of bone mass?


Did you know that magnesium and silicon play as big a role as calcium in the intracellular balance that is conducive to bone health?


Silicon, in fact, not only reduces the number of bone destroying cells but also partially prevents bone resorption and bone damage. 2 Studies have also shown that with every 100mg supplementation of magnesium (consider here that 50% of the body’s total magnesium is found in bone), bone density increase by 2%! 3






Complete bone health is dependant on a variety of bioavailable vitamins, proteins and minerals: vitamin C, vitamin D, Vitamin A, several minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese) and silicon.


Where do you find the richest source of most of these? Superfoods!


Raw Cacao contains more magnesium, and Camu Camu contains more vitamin C, than any other food substance. Bee Pollen contains high levels of all essential amino acids and bone repairing minerals calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and manganese. MSM synthesises and increases the level of silicon that is available to the body. Supplementing your diet with these good quality, organic tonic foods will not only improve your physical well being but improve your performance, strength and endurance during training.






1) Marieb & Hoehn, ‘Human Anatomy and Physiology, Bones and Skeletal tissue, Pearson International Edition, 2010.


2) Silicon: An Overlooked Trace Mineral; www.arthritissupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/739 v8/18/2003


3) Stengler, M. Magnesium Is the Key to Strong Bones, http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/hot_topics.html?aid=38200&sid=hottopo2, 25/9/10