Nutrients for Healthy Bones
Calcium is not the only thing you need for strong bones. In fact, if you supplement calcium without taking all the other nutrients into account, you may be making your bones more brittle and increase the chances of having a fracture.
Understanding the structure and function of bones will help us figure out why calcium alone is not the answer.
Bones are composed of calcium phosphate salts (65%) for hardness, and a collagen matrix (35%) for flexibility.
When all the calcium from a bone is removed, leaving the collagen matrix, the bone will bend, not break, when subjected to stress.
When the collagen matrix is removed and the calcium salts remain, the bone will break when stress is applied.
For strong bones that can withstand stress, we need many synergistic nutrients besides calcium: magnesium, phosphorus, boron, copper, manganese, zinc, plus the vitamins C, D, K, B6, and folic acid.
We also need sufficient amounts of protein for the collagen matrix, and healthful fats for Vitamin D absorption and protection against bone-destroying free radicals.
To get sufficient Vitamin D, we need 15 minutes or more of sunlight, or at least daylight, every day, without sunscreen. An SPF of 8 blocks 95% of the production of Vitamin D on the skin and anything higher blocks it all.