Tissue Mineral Balance

Minerals compose about 4% of our body. They are essential because humans do not produce minerals – we must obtain them through our food. The most abundant mineral by far is calcium, most of which is stored in our bones and moved into the bloodstream when needed. Surprisingly, considering the high occurrence of osteoporosis in our culture, almost everyone gets enough calcium in their diets, but the problem is that they are missing the “helpers” that allow the body to use and absorb the calcium. One of these helpers is fat-soluble vitamin K2 (found in organ meats, egg yolks, and dairy products) which tells the calcium where to go when it enters the bloodstream. If you’ve ever had kidney stones, or calcification of the arteries, or a bone spur, or even calcified dental tartar, these are signs that your vitamin K2 levels are low.

Another helper for calcium absorption is fat. Calcium is absorbed into the bloodstream mostly in the first part of the small intestine, and takes time to absorb. In nature, high calcium foods such as whole milk, cheese, and traditional bone broth are also high in fat, and this is not a coincidence. Fat slows the passage of food through the digestive system, so it allows the calcium rich food ample time to fully be assimilated into the body.