So what’s up with this bone support product? Here’s the scoop!
As with most similar products, we start off with (so-called) Vitamin C which is in the form of Calcium Ascorbate which is not even vitamin C but synthetic Ascorbic Acid mixed with calcium, likely carbonate. Too few know why to avoid Synthetic Ascorbic Acid but it destroys gut flora, meaning it diminishes the good bacteria in your gut along with the bad – and you need that good bacteria to help support the 70% of your immune system the gut makes up for immune support which you need intact and optimal to heal. But in addition to being responsible for the health of your immune system, that bacteria in your gut is also responsible for most of your nutrient intake, and without that bacteria, you will get much less of every nutrient you ingest. The gut is where nutrient absorption begins or ends. It leads to Dysbiosis. If you read even the first page of “Opening the Doors to Reversing and Healing Osteoporosis”, you will have seen Dysbiosis is a cause of Osteo and will exacerbate the condition and it symptoms. You can read more about ascorbic acid in WHY NOT (SYNTHETIC) ASCORBIC ACID? Another issue with synthetic Ascorbic Acid is that it was shown in a study to cause the thickening of arteries.
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is next which means this would have you supplementing synthetic vitamin D3 which many are now becoming aware of the dangers of following a 3-year Canadian study. Vitamin D3 should not be supplemented except from food sources and only if deficient. It should come from exposure to the sun and then food. Such D3 used as used in supplements, unless otherwise stated, is not from food. Most are from lanolin or synthetic sources. Supplementing D3 causes a loss of bone density, even in small doses as little as 400 I.U. As shown in the mentioned recent supplementing led to a 1.2% decrease in bone density. The decrease went up exponentially with increased doses. Another study found synthetic vitamin D damages arteries. You can read about his and other dangers/side effects of supplementing from the Hormone Vitamin D page of “Opening the Doors to Reversing and Healing Osteoporosis“. The dosage/serving shown may or may not be adequate to meet RDI levels for all.
Calcium is the next ingredient so this would also have you supplementing calcium which is known to increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney stones, and damage to the kidneys as well as a significant increase in fractures and further bone loss. Despite being in a form that is more bioavailable, the same form as in your body/bones, it carries the same risks to your overall health. Further, supplementing with calcium supplements was shown in two studies to produce only a 1% increase in bone density in the first year of use, but no further increases thereafter with all benefits of increased bone mass stopping completely. That is very little gain for a lot of risk! Other problems with supplementing calcium are it causes constipation and decreases the acid levels in your stomach which means you will get less nutrition from your food meaning food is more likely to ferment which will lead to gut health and digestive issues such as Leaky Gut, also a known cause of osteoporosis. Indigestion, reflux, G.E.R.D, IBS/IBD, Chron’s, and colon cancer are just a few of the health implications associated with low stomach acid. Supplementing calcium is just not worth the risks to your health and loss of bone health and should only be done if deficient and then should be matched equally or more with magnesium. You can read more about that and other information on the Calcium page of “Opening the Doors to Reversing and Healing Osteoporosis“.
Magnesium, while being the most important mineral your bones need and for the overall health of your body, needs to be readily available and needs to match or exceed the amount of calcium you get. This product contains Magnesium Oxide, a form that is extremely hard for the body to absorb. This is why it is suggested by this nutritionist as well as all experts on the subject to use a “chelated” form. This means it is mixed with and bonded to an amino acid such as glycine, malic acid, orotic acid, threonine, taurine, etc.: (Glycinate, Malate, Orotate, Threonate/L-threonate, Taurate), etc. You need magnesium but it needs to match whatever calcium you take in by a “minimum” of the same amount or up to twice the calcium but is essential to get at least a 1:1 ratio.
The Zinc, like most of the other ingredients in this product, has recently changed and is now in a form that is more bioavailable and does not contain the vitamin B6 it did which was not previously mentioned. This zinc does have an amino acid mixed with it which would make it more bioavailable but it does not give any warning that the amino acid used is derived from sulfur and those with allergies or sensitivities to sulfur could find themselves compromised by a reaction.
The current ingredients listed for Zinc and Copper are acceptable forms but are both shy of the RDI suggested by experts as mentioned in the Supplements For Osteoporosis as are the Vitamin C and others. This means one using this would still need to possibly supplement more separately.
The Manganese brings up one of the other real dangers found in most products like this –CITRATE. If you have read the “ANTINUTRIENTS FOUND IN SUPPLEMENTS and FOODS” article, you know why you need to avoid this toxin. You can also now find more details on the antinutrient in ACIDS. Citrate, is a salt or ester of synthetic Citric Acid which is made by growing Aspergillus (black mold) on primarily GMO sugar beets, corn starch, or cassava. Again we have issues with GMOs and Glyphosate in corn and lead in Cassava. However, a study from a few years back showed that the chemicals and mold from processing Citrate remain in the finished product and many have acquired Aspergillus toxicity as well as other complications. No one needs yet another health issue when they’re trying to heal one or more, especially one as devastating as OP. Citrate also creates kidney stones (See “The Calcium Lie 2” by Dr. Robert Thompson) and damages the kidneys with long-term use. Citrate also increases significantly the absorption of aluminum from foods and supplements or other products. And, of course, one of the worst effects of Citrate (synthetic citric acid) is that it (like all citric acid) pulls alkaline minerals from your bones; in this case, more so as it is concentrated. So while you are taking this supplement to build your bones, the Citrate is working against you, along with some of the other ingredients. As I often state, ingesting antinutrients is like being afloat in a boat with a hole in it; you can either plug the hole or spend all your time trying to bail yourself out of danger. Citric acid/Citrate may do more harm than you can fix.
The previous next ingredient Boron has been moved down the list and now shows Potassium but guess what it’s mixed with? More Citrate. Double the poison! And is only 33 mg which is but a fraction of the RDI which has a minimum for women of 2600 mg, 3400 mg for men, yet both are encouraged to get 4700 mg, leaving a lot to make up from an alleged “one-magic-pill”.
Next up is Vitamin K2 MK7 (Menaquinone-7). While MK7 is important and needed to move calcium to the bones and teeth, it also does not have MK4 which is important as it moves calcium from soft tissue into the bloodstream so the MK7 can move it to the bones, teeth, and nails. But let’s further consider the source. Though it no longer shows, this form as shown on the old label is sourced from SOY. Although it is, I’m sure, fermented, it does not state natto and is, therefore, most likely nattokinase which is even worse. But let’s look at the properties of soy. It is 94% GMO and sprayed heavily with Glyphosate right before harvesting to enhance ripening. GMOs have been shown to destroy pigs’ guts turning them to mush as well as having implications for cancers. Glyphosate has been proven in three court cases (with huge payouts) to cause cancer. Even in “trace amounts” you can find this to compromise your health and nothing in this product is organic which “might” otherwise avoid some of these ramifications. But beyond this, soy is an endocrine disruptor, meaning it throws off hormone balance and you need “balanced” hormones for making new bone tissue, as well as proper digestion, sleep, sex drive, thyroid and adrenal health, brain function, and much more. Soy contains phytates, and oxalates, that bind to and prevent absorption of the very minerals in the product and those you’re trying to get to your bones; saponins and lectins that damage the gut lining causing permeability of the tight junctions that keep pathogens and proteins that don’t belong in your blood out, allowing them access which leads to Leaky Gut and a major loss of nutrients as well as creating chronic inflammation which destroys your bones as well as leading to autoimmunity and fueling many conditions and their symptoms. Over 200 studies have been done on soy finding it to be one of the worst food products ever with many health implications, especially with ties to breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer.
One other note here is anytime you supplement (or get from food) vitamin D3, you need to match it up with the appropriate amount of K2. This falls quite shy of that. The recommendation is 100 mcg of K2 MK7 per every 1000 units of D3. At 333 I.U. (about 1/3 what it used to be), this should have a “minimum” of 33 mcg of K2, yet it has less than half that.
Our last primary ingredient is Boron. It too is in in Citrate form with all the nasty side effects already mentioned. Boron at a minimum should be 3 mg and as you can see it has 1/3 of that and some recommend as much as 20 mg leaving this as minuscule.
But we’re not done yet . . .
Anything else? Yes, and while some may not see it as critical perhaps as some of these mentioned, in the “other ingredients” where I tell everyone to look first for antinutrients, Magnesium Stearate is listed. As mentioned in “ANTINUTRIENTS FOUND IN SUPPLEMENTS and FOODS“, this destroys killer T cells in the immune system that would leave you more vulnerable to sickness and disease and less able to heal you of any conditions.
So a question I have for those who think such products are good is if you’re going to take a “one-in-all” magic pill /formula, shouldn’t you get everything you need? This does not have it all nor does any other similar product and you will never get all of what you need from them. And if you’re getting most of your nutrients from diet/food as you should, this might put you over on some or under on some and leave you still having to supplement something else. One thing is for certain which is why I suggest avoiding “blended” products such as this. If you need to adjust just one nutrient, you can’t without doing the same with all as all are “blended” together. Every one of these types of BONE SUPPORT PRODUCTS have similar issues in common: Synthetic vitamins, Cheap minerals, Disproportionate dosages, and Antinutrients. Additionally, this, and similar products have caused some additional heartache due to the chemicals and antinutrients in them.
Does anyone still want to take this product? If you care about your health, you will not. I consider this and others like it to be just “slightly” better than drugs and in this case, is classified as one (see below). Did you notice this last statement on the label?
StimuCal™ is a registered trademark of PharmaZen Ltd., and is patent pending. Note: No natural substance can hold a patent; only drugs can. In my opinion, this (StimuCal) is a drug, or at least no different than a drug, and is made by a pharmaceutical company.
Agree or not, you need to be smarter than the companies who make such products. These companies want your money and care only about keeping you as a customer, not your health!
Review/commentary:
Written by Douglas K. Johnson – Life, Health and Wellness Coach, Herbalist, Nutritionist, Investigative Journalist, and Author
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