You don’t have to be a parent to get the message that consuming sufficient calcium is important for bone health.  But if you are a parent, messages about calcium, and specifically calcium from dairy, is practically beat over your head from the moment solid food is introduced.  As a doctor, I understand calcium and the role it plays, but I also recognize that calcium isn’t the only nutrient that’s important to growing strong bones, and as a naturopath, I’ve always been bothered by dairy as a seemingly singular source for this mineral.  Dark leafy greens also happen to be an excellent source of calcium and may even provide this nutrient in a more bioavailable form.

So, I was refreshed to see a press release this week by the American Academy of Pediatrics that new research suggests magnesium may be as important to kids’ bone health as calcium.  From the lead researcher,

Calcium is important, but, except for those children and adolescents with very low intakes, may not be more important than magnesium.

The press release also goes on to recommend parents encourage their children to consume magnesium-rich foods such as salmon and almonds (other excellent sources of magnesium include pumpkin seeds, spinach, chard and soybeans).

As it relates to dairy, and milk specifically, my children’s pediatrician helped put the role of this food group into a context that works in my naturopathic mommy mind…while dairy may not be the only or best source of calcium, it happens to also be a super calorie-dense drink/snack.  If you also have kids that are growing like weeds, supplying calories in any way, shape or form is essential.  For that reason, even more than because of the calcium, I serve dairy to my kids every day.

Bottom line, the key to health is very rarely one-dimensional.  It makes sense that calcium isn’t the only nutrient to keep in mind when it comes to growing healthy bones.  Protein, a broad spectrum of minerals from whole foods, regular exercise, sunshine and of course love are all equally important elements to growing strong, healthy, happy kids.

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Image by Anastacia Haddon