HEALTH REPORT
The secret for healthy Bones
W hen it comes to bones, calcium gets all the press; however, that is not the whole story. Poor bone metabolism is characterised by the loss of bone mineral density and mass, which in turn weakens bones and makes them susceptible to fractures. The risk of low bone density increases significantly with age, and yet those affected rarely realise they have a problem until they have a fall that results in a fracture; in fact, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, an astonishing 200 million women are affected by low bone density – that is more than the combined population of Germany, the UK and France! Here is another interesting fact: did you know that your entire skeleton is constantly being repaired, and is therefore effectively replaced every seven years or so? This bone repair and replacement process is regulated by osteoblasts (cells that build up the skeleton) and osteoclasts
to stop taking calcium. This can be a big mistake, because the body cannot make calcium on its own, and it relies on dietary and supplemental forms to maintain adequate levels. In order to protect both your bones and your heart health, the answer is to take calcium together with vitamin K2, because this vitamin is critical in ensuring the correct regulation of calcium metabolism. Vitamin K2 - specifically, vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7 (MK-7) - has been shown to increase the activation of two important vitamin K-dependent proteins: osteocalcin and matrix GLA protein (MGP). Once activated, osteocalcin binds calcium to the bone matrix, while MGP stops calcium from being deposited into arteries and blood vessels. In this way, vitamin K2 helps your body to simultaneously build strong, dense bones while also protecting your cardiovascular system from dangerous calcium deposits. There is proven clinical evidence to support this. In two recent studies, vitamin K2 as MK-7 (as MenaQ7 ® from NattoPharma) not only improved bone mineral density, bone mineral content
(cells that break down the skeleton). As long as your bone-forming activity (absorption) exceeds bone-breakdown activity (resorption), your bones will remain healthy. You can support and improve your odds of maintaining this balance by providing your bones with the right nutrients.
Vitamin K2 helps your body to simultaneously build strong, dense bones while also protecting your cardiovascular system from dangerous calcium deposits.
The missing link Calcium is widely accepted as being the nutrient that is most important for bone health. However, some studies have raised concerns that excessive calcium supplementation may trigger heart disease, and this has caused some people
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ISSUE 59 • 2020
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