Why Silica is important for bone health

Many people know about the importance of Calcium for bone health.  But healthy bones need many other nutrients (e.g. Vitamin D and Magnesium) in addition to Calcium.

Another critical bone health nutrient is Silica, which is actually more prevalent than Calcium in bone. This is because Silica makes up a large part of the collagen matrix. Collagen is a protein that comprises 80% of our total bone mass. 

Silica is also important for healthy hair and nails. A Silica deficiency can result in dry, brittle hair and soft, peeling nails. These outward signs show how important Silica is as a ‘building block’ for structures within the body.

What does Silica do in the body?

Some of the functions of Silica include:

• speeding up fracture healing
• reducing scarring at the site of a fracture
• catalysing the enzyme required to build collagen
• acting as a cement for bone structure and strength
• promoting bone mineralisation
• helping to reduce the pain experienced in degenerative bone conditions
• reducing the number of osteoclast cells that destroy existing bone tissue
• increasing the number of osteoblast cells available to reform new bone tissue

Horsetail herb: a natural source of Silica

Horsetail is a bushy plant that is an ideal source of Silica. It provides organic (or plant-derived Silica), which the body absorbs much more efficiently than inorganic silica. Horsetail has been used since Roman times, and is generally considered safe to take long-term, with few reported side effects.