Enjoy Whole Grains to Help Improve Your Bone Health
When you think about important foods which help to keep your bones healthy and strong you probably think of dairy foods like milk and cheese due to their high calcium content. Calcium is an essential mineral involved in keeping your bones and teeth strong however other nutrients also play a role in keeping your bones healthy. The other nutrients which play important roles in keeping your bones strong include:
- Vitamin D
This fat-soluble vitamin is found in foods like seafood, egg yolks, dairy and fortified foods and is important to allowing the calcium to be absorbed properly in your body. Think of this vitamin as the key and calcium is the lock.
- Magnesium
50-60% of the magnesium in your body is stored in your bones. Low levels of magnesium can increase bone loss and reduce the overall health of your bones. Magnesium may also help vitamin D levels in your body stay in optimal amounts and help metabolise vitamin D. Magnesium can be found in foods like nuts, seeds and whole grains or whole grain containing products like Corn Thins® slices
- Phosphorous and Zinc
Along with magnesium and calcium, phosphorous and zinc allow the formation of the mineral content in your bones made from hydroxyapatite to be created. Zinc can be found in animal foods like seafood, poultry, and meat as well as from nuts, seeds, and whole grains like Corn Thins™. Phosphorous can be found in foods such as dairy products, meat, fish and poultry, nuts, seeds, and whole grains & whole grain containing products which include quinoa, oatmeal, bran flakes and Corn Thins® products.
- Vitamin K
There are two types of vitamin K, vitamin K1 found in green leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, spinach and brussel sprouts and soybeans and parsley. Secondly vitamin K2 found in foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, hard cheeses, chicken, egg, pork, yoghurt and natto. Vitamin K is essential for creating two proteins with specific roles in creating strong bones.
Take home message: A balanced diet is essential for your health. This blog is a prime example how different nutrients in foods play many important roles in keeping your body working at its best and is another reason to enjoy Corn Thins® products.