Here we have yet another Bone Support Product and one with a great-sounding name, Ocean Essence! It certainly sounds like it would be loaded with wonderful things from a natural source, like the ocean. But on closer inspection, we find it is just another typical bone support product with many of the commonly found ingredients that are, for the most part, far from natural or healthy, as well as some of the common antinutrients found in most.
Though it has ingredients that are needed for optimal bone health, the problem is most of them are not from food, where all or most nutrients should be obtained. Let’s take a closer look at what they are.
ASCORBIC ACID
The first ingredient listed is what is labeled as “vitamin C” but it’s not really vitamin C, at least not real or the whole vitamin as found in food sources; it’s just the wrapper as Dr. Robert Thompson, author of The Calcium Lie II calls it. Whole food vitamin C has 8 parts and this is just one of them. But problem with it goes deeper than that. Note the source? It’s not food! It is synthetic Ascorbic Acid. As mentioned in “Why Not (Synthetic Ascorbic) Acid?” this synthetic substance can lead to some serious issues that include the destruction of the gut microbiome. This is a problem as the gut makes up over 70% of the immune system. It is also where all nutrient absorption begins or ends! When the gut is compromised, your immune system has a decreased ability to heal your body and keep you healthy! Another problem mentioned in that article is that synthetic ascorbic acid has been found to cause the thickening of arteries. 1 Because it is made by growing Aspergillus (black mold) on primarily GMO sugar beets or corn starch, we add two more issues: one from GMOs which have their own issues but also since these crops are heavily sprayed with Round Up which contains Glyphosate, we have the potential for cancer as shown in several court cases. While the label says “GMO-free” often the inner contents of added ingredients like this are not given. Even aside from the GMOs, we still have the significant side effects of the Glyphosate and as it is not shown as being 100% organic, this is more than likely. And some have been hospitalized for Aspergillus toxicity as studies have found it often is left as a residual ingredient in supplements. Also, as mentioned in the above named article, synthetic ascorbic acid has been found to increase the absorption of aluminum in foods and supplements.
SYNTHETIC CHOLECALCIFEROL
Our next labeled ingredient is synthetic vitamin D (cholecalciferol). So what’s wrong with snthetic vitamin D? Where do I start! First, it is synthetic! Notice is shows no food source, like the vitamin C? This means it is synthetic and is made from lanolin. Why is this a problem? It was discovered in a 3-year study out of Canada to cause the loss of bone minerals from the bones with exponentially increasing loss with any increase in dose but only 400 I.U. was shown to cause a 1.2% decrease in BMD; 4000 I.U. led to a 2.4% loss and so on. The amount in the serving size of 4 capsules, is 1600 I.U., so one could expect to lose minerals from the bones. The study was done with healthy adults so anyone using this who already has osteoporosis and is currently losing bone density, would exacerbate their condition. 2 Further, as learned from another study, synthetic vitamin D can damage arteries. 3 And from other studies, there is no benefit for osteoporosis to supplement vitamin D if one is not deficient according to Dr. Dr. Robert Cywes. 4 There are other reasons but the point, I believe, is well made. Vitamin D shouldn’t be supplemented unless deficient and if so, only food-based should be used such as Cod Liver Oil and/or other food-based sources.
Calcium
Next up is another highly misunderstood nutrient – Calcium which also needs to be supplemented only if deficient, and again, best obtained from food. If one is deficient, only one form is appropriate (hydroxyapatite) and even that form has problems and many have had to ask for help with acid reflux because calcium, which is an alkaline mineral, neutralizes stomach acid leading to reflux and can result in Leaky Gut, a known cause of osteoporosis, as mentioned in the first pages of “Opening the Doors to Reversing and Healing Osteoporosis.” Other problems exist from supplementing calcium such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney stones and damage, increased risk of fractures, weakened bones, and according to studies, one gains only a 1% increase in BMD for only about a year before all benefits stop as mentioned on the calcium page in the above mentioned book. One further issue in obtaining calcium, is studies have shown any calcium intake whether from food or supplements should be matched equally at a minimum to twice that by magnesium which is also mentioned on the calcium page. This has about half, which is a flawed old-school ratio. Lastly, the body only absorbs small amounts of approximately 500 mg or less at one time. This has over that. 5 And too much can be harmful and damage the bones. 6 7
Iron
Iron is next in line but again we have issues with this. Iron is not an “essential” nutrient needed to address osteoporosis. It too should come from food and only supplemented if low to deficient. While it is important, it is not essential and if one is to supplement iron, it should be heme iron, not plant-based as this is. Plant-based iron is not as bioavailable and must be synthesized in the body. 7 8 And while it requires vitamin C to be absorbed and utilized best, it should be whole-food vitamin C and this has synthetic. 9
Magnesium
As mentioned, magnesium should be at least equal to if not twice that as any calcium, whether from food or supplement. 10 One of the problems with this is the form which in part is magnesium oxide which is hard for the body to absorb. A chelated form is best which would be one bonded with an amino acid, which this lacks.
Copper & Manganese
These two ingredients are not problematic. Both are chelated forms and easily absorbed.
Sodium
This also is not likely concerning though one might wonder of the source.
Silica
This also does not pose any issues. However, as silica is needed for collagen production along with four other nutrients as mentioned on the Silica page of “Opening the Doors to Reversing and Healing Osteoporosis,” it would be needed within a time with collagen and the other four required nutrients for it to be fully beneficial.
Boron
Our next in line is Boron but here is where we run into a significant antinutrient: Citrate. Citrate is a major antinutrient. It is a salt or ester of synthetic Citric Acid which causes “buffering” and the loss of minerals from the bones. It is also stated to create kidney stones when mixed with calcium by Dr. Robert Thompson. There are other issues with Citrate such as the residual effects of from Aspergillus mold. 11 More of the side effecs of Citrate can be found in ACIDS.
Vitamin K2
Lastly in our primary ingredients is Vitamin K2. The first question to be asked here is what is the source. Two things I have found in common with most vitamin K2 MK7 is that it is most often “legume-based” which has caused many to develop heart palpitations. Legumes are also high in antinutrients such as lectins that damage the gut and can lead to Leaky Gut. Another problem here is two forms of K2 should be included: MK4 which works to move calcium from soft tissue (joints, blood vessels, the heart, and softer tissue) to the bloodstream. This lacks MK4. MK7 is the other which serves a two-fold purpose. One is to move calcium in the blood to the bones, teeth, and nails. The other is MK7 is needed to create osteocalcin, the protein that creates new bone cells. This and more is covered on the vitamin K page of “Opening the Doors to Reversing and Healing Osteoporosis.”
One last reason to avoid this product is the one antinutrient shown in the “Other Ingredients” where I always say to look first as this is where most antinutrients are found in most supplements. There could be more but this is the only one showing but it’s enough. I’m talking about Magnesium Stearate. As mentioned in the Antinutrients in Supplements and Foods article, this can destroy the killer T-cells of the immune system and should be avoided, despite the debates over it.
For an overview, this is no different than most other Bone Support Products. It has synthetic vitamins that are capable of harming your health. It has minerals in forms that are not ideal and some mixed with antinutrients as well as antinutrients that have been added. It has disproportional dosages. One of those not mentioned above is that of Vitamin K2 MK7 to vitamin D3. Any vitamin D, whether from food or food-based supplements needs to be matched at the proper ratio and this, like most similar supplements falls short. While studies have shown vitamin K2 does not offset the ill effects of high doses of vitamin D, most agree it must be taken with vitamin D and at the proper ratio. And being fat soluble vitamin like vitamin D, 11 g of fat is needed for best absorption and this contains no fat to aid absorption of either. 12 13
This, like all such products should be avoided!
© Douglas K. Johnson
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