Bone Health Supplements

About Bone Health Supplements

Bones are the framework of the human body. They are what muscles pull on to move limbs, as they are themselves the foundation of our limbs. And as solid and strong as they always seem, our bone mineral density can vary considerably. Bone mineral density refers to the concentration of minerals in bone, which reflects the strength of the bone material. As we get older, during periods of inactivity or during certain illnesses, our bone mineral density can decrease leaving us prone to fractures and breakages. One of the best ways to strengthen bones is through regular physical activity, particularly weight-bearing exercise. Ideally, this resistance exercise should utilise all four limbs in order to strengthen of as many bones as possible. For instance, jogging is a fantastic form of exercise at strengthening lower limbs, though it doesn’t do much for bones of the upper body.

When muscles pull on bones in order for us to move, both the muscle and the bone is stressed proportionate to the degree of exercise. When we stress a muscle, just as weightlifters do to the absolute maximum, it responds by repairing and rebuilding bigger or stronger than before as a natural defence mechanism against future stress. It is quite a natural and logical activity of the human body to improve the strength of any area of the body that is under stress. Exercise also helps to improve coordination and balance, which are important as we age. Some of the best forms of exercise for bone strength are calisthenics, weight training (light weights with high repetitions at first), exercise with rubber resistance bands, tennis, dancing, jogging and heavy gardening—we’re talking about some big weeds here folks.  

There are many important nutrients that bones need to maintain themselves and repair damage. This is where bone supplements come in handy. The most important of these are the essential amino acids, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, boron, Vitamin D, Vitamin K, silica, zinc, manganese and copper. Essential amino acids are found in all high quality protein foods, such as eggs and fish, while good sources of calcium are dairy products, sesame seeds or tahini and sardines (with edible bones). In fact, sesame seeds are rich in a broad range of minerals, making them a great source of nutrients to keep bones strong. These would need to be consumed in moderation, however, due to their high energy-density. 

Though calcium tends to be the first nutrient that springs to mind when bone health is the topic of conversation, there is in fact a strong body of scientific evidence more in support of other nutrients that in the past would have merely been considered secondary to calcium. For instance, boron is an important mineral that plays a crucial role in bone maintenance and strength, supporting the absorption of magnesium, and regulating oestrogen levels in post-menopausal women, which we all need for healthy bones. This has been reported in Nutrition Reviews in 2008 and Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal in 2015.

We have a great range of products within our bone supplements section to complement your diet and exercise program. There are a host of different calcium supplements available on the Australian market today, ranging from high bioavailability hydroxyapatite and calcium citrate ingredients, to seaweed-based Aquamin^TM, to coral-based products. These can be great additions to the diet, particularly if calcium-rich foods are in limited supply. There are also pure Vitamin D supplements, as well as silica and Vitamin K2 products, that can be useful to address particular nutrient deficits.