What Almond Milk, Calcium Pills and Zeolites Have In Common...

(NaturalNews) Did you know that calcium pills are linked to heart attacks? Were you aware that commercial almond milk is made with ground up inorganic oyster shells or limestone? Has anyone told you that zeolite powders are mined out of the ground from crushed rocks containing high levels of lead and aluminum?

The most important nutritional warning I can offer you today is to stop eating and drinking rocks.

In almond milk, cheap, low-grade calcium is mixed with water and carageenan (a thickener) to make a thick, whitish substance that visually resembles the color and texture of almond milk. Cheap calcium carbonate is added to almond milk to make it compete with the calcium content of regular cow's milk. But the result is a nutritional catastrophe: You're drinking inorganic, crushed oyster shells or limestone!

Cheap calcium pills are almost always contaminated with LEAD. They're derived from low-grade, inorganic sources of raw materials made almost entirely with calcium carbonate. This isn't the kind of calcium your body needs. In fact, calcium carbonate probably contributes to artery and kidney calcification. Ditch the cheap calcium pills and get calcium from high-grade sources or your food (plants).

Zeolites are mined out of the ground like rocks. They're made from aluminosilicates (high in aluminum) and typically contain very high concentrations of the heavy metal LEAD (typically 20 - 60 ppm). When swallowed in large, granular form, they pass right through your digestive tract undigested. That's because your weak stomach acid can't dissolve rocks. But when zeolites are crushed into fine powders, they release both aluminum and lead during digestion in your stomach. This greatly concerns me because people who eat zeolite powders have been shown to urinate increased levels of aluminum and lead, indicating these metals are likely getting absorbed into their blood.

Stop eating ROCKS and start eating REAL FOOD

I'm frequently astonished at how so many people in the health industry can be led astray from the basic fundamentals of mindful nutrition. It's not rocket science to realize that you should get your minerals from food sources, not rocks.

It's also not rocket science to realize that you probably shouldn't be swallowed rocks suspended in water through the use of carageenan or other thickeners. Suspended molecules of calcium carbonate does not equate to "milk."

And if you're hoping to eliminate toxic heavy metals from your body, it makes little sense to keep eating them every day in the form of fine powder zeolites.

Sadly, some of what's being offered in the food and dietary supplement industries is marketed to consumers in a misleading way, either denying consumers the knowledge of what the substance is really made of or wildly exaggerating claims of what the substance can really accomplish in the body. While there really are true "miracle" nutrients like vitamin D and resveratrol, cheap, low-grade, inorganic rocks probably aren't good for you to eat or drink on a regular basis.

To read further and learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/052039_almond_milk_calcium_carbonate_zeolites.html#ixzz3ryWm4Bs9

Calcium controversy explained - Vitamin K2 keeps calcium in your bones and out of your arteries

Popping calcium pills has become the norm in our culture where osteoporosis has become pervasive, but in recent years research points to calcium supplements posing a danger to our heart health. We're left to wonder: is calcium beneficial or dangerous? There is little doubt that calcium plays many key roles in our health, but the latest research clarifies that calcium alone is not the answer. Many leading experts say vitamin K2 is the missing link in the calcium puzzle.

Calcium belongs in our bones, not in our blood. When our vitamin K2 levels are low, calcium collects in our blood and can lead to calcification in our arteries. The Rotterdam Study, which followed about 4,800 individuals for a 10-year period, showed that individuals who consume the most dietary vitamin K2 experience 50 percent less arterial calcification and cardiovascular death.

This happens because vitamin K2 prevents calcium build-up in the arteries by activating the vascular protein MGP, which inhibits arterial calcification. Vitamin K2 also activates proteins that work to mineralize bones. These two important qualities help combat two diseases which pose serious risk for millions: heart disease and osteoporosis.

Experts emphasize that vitamin K2 is better absorbed and provides more benefits to bone and heart health compared to vitamin K1. Specifically, the MK-7 form of vitamin K2 (like that found in the fermented Japanese soy food natto) is especially potent and stable in the body.

Rule of thumb: Nutrients belong together

The problem with calcium is thinking in isolation. In nature, nutrients do not come in isolated packages. Even foods which are particularly high in one nutrient, also contain a spectrum of additional nutrients that enhance absorption and combat possible negative side effects.

Calcium is not meant to be consumed alone. In whole foods, calcium always comes packaged with nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin D and vitamin A. This is no coincidence. Research has shown all of these nutrients work together to promote better health.

Science may just be catching up to the idea that nutrients belong together, but it's something nature has known all along. A well-rounded diet that contains plenty of calcium with vitamin K2 and a balance of other important nutrients will be your best bet for saving your heart and your bones.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/columns/vitamin-connection/vitamin-k2-puts-calcium-bones-and-removes-calcium-arteries-part-1

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/healthcare/studies/story/2011-12-21/Study-Vitamin-D-helps-bone-health-only-with-calcium/52136618/1

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11706280

About the author:
Elizabeth Walling is a freelance writer specializing in health and family nutrition. She is a strong believer in natural living as a way to improve health and prevent modern disease. She enjoys thinking outside of the box and challenging common myths about health and wellness. You can visit her blog to learn more:
www.livingthenourishedlife.com/2009/10/welcome.html

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/034741_calcium_vitamin_K2_bones.html#ixzz1kV1J7Qtu

Blackstrap Molasses

I've recently been reading about the health benefits of blackstrap molasses and am pretty intrigued. Not only is it a great source of iron and calcium, but it's also a source of potassium, magnesium, copper, and manganese. Many people claim to have reversed their gray hair with it. I bet this is at least partly due to the copper content, as copper deficiency can lead to prematurely gray hair.

Copper, an essential component of many enzymes, plays a role in a wide range of physiological processes including iron utilization, elimination of free radicals, development of bone and connective tissue, and the production of the skin and hair pigment called melanin ... Using two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses to sweeten your morning cereal and the coffee or tea you drink during the day will supply you with 14.0% of the daily recommended value for copper. whfoods.com

I also found a page of blackstrap molasses testimonials at earthclinic.com. At first I thought that site was selling molasses because the testimonials were so amazing - people claim the molasses cured cancer, acne, arthritis, and everything in between. However, the site actually looks pretty useful - it allows readers to comment on natural remedies.

I'm going to buy some today and will report back. I'm not sure how I'm going to eat it - it looks like mixing it in water is the most popular method.

Source: http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/blackstrap-molasses.html