Think Nutrient Bioavailability, Not Just Numbers
As a nose-to-tail food company we talk a lot about nutrient density.
But the other side of that coin is nutrient availability.
Put simply, there's no point consuming all these amazing nutrients if our body cannot access them.
Charts, percentages, “highest source” claims are everywhere, inviting us to tick boxes and feel virtuous. But in health, as in life, numbers only tell part of the story.
We often celebrate foods with the “highest” nutrient levels, yet we rarely pause to ask: Can our bodies actually use this?
That’s where bioavailability comes in: it’s not what’s on the back of the pack—but what gets absorbed, transported, and utilised that matters.
This is the difference between eating with intention and falling for appearances.
So, what is bio-availability?
How does it work?
And which foods give us the nutrients we need in bio-available form?
Magnesium: More Than a Buzzword
Magnesium is a superstar nutrient. It fuels energy, calms muscles, and keeps our stress in check.
But here’s the twist: while plant-based foods like almonds, spinach, and pumpkin seeds look good on paper, their magnesium is often trapped in compounds our bodies can’t easily break down.
Here’s what might be blocking your magnesium uptake:
Phytic Acid – Found in grains, nuts, and seeds, it latches onto magnesium, making it harder to absorb.
Oxalates – Spinach’s darker side: oxalates bind to magnesium and escort it right out of the body.
Fibre Overload – Too much fibre (looking at you, “10-plant-a-day” crowd) traps magnesium in the gut.
Gut Health – If your gut isn’t thriving, your magnesium uptake won’t be either.
Competition – Magnesium battles calcium and zinc for absorption—too much of one can mean too little of another.
For example:
“Magnesium has been removed from most drinking water supplies, setting a stage for human magnesium deficiency.”
The result?
You may eat “all the right foods” and still fall short.
So, how can we boost absorption?
Magnesium thrives in the company of good friends:
Vitamin D helps transport magnesium into cells.
Healthy fats improve its solubility.
Protein-rich diets boost absorption and utilisation.
And here’s the kicker: magnesium from animal-based foods—like grass-fed beef, fish, and dairy—doesn’t come with the anti-nutrient baggage. It’s ready, willing, and available for your body to use.
At Oath, we don’t take sides.
We believe that both animals and plants have a place in a personalised, nutrient-dense diet, curated by a nutritionist like myself. There are no inherently "bad" whole foods, only foods that might not align with your current needs or serve your goals at this moment.
The best sources of magnesium, with the highest bioavailability, include:
Coconut water: A hydrating and magnesium-rich beverage
Fish: A nutrient-dense animal protein packed with bioavailable magnesium
Oysters: Rich in both magnesium and other essential minerals
Grass-fed beef (muscle meat): A high-quality source of magnesium, alongside numerous other nutrients
Milk and yogurt: Dairy offers magnesium in a form that’s easy to absorb
By focusing on nutrient density and bioavailability, you’re giving your body the best chance to absorb and utilise magnesium effectively.
Remember, it's not about the foods that sound healthiest—it's about the ones that work for your body, right now.
As a nutritionist, here’s my take:
Over the past decade, the rise of the plant-based narrative has unintentionally done us a disservice nutritionally.
The push to eat more than 10 different plants a day or to “eat the rainbow” has its merits, but when it comes to nutrient bioavailability, it often falls short.
While plant foods are an essential part of an optimal diet, the effort required to unlock their nutrients—soaking, rinsing, sprouting, sourcing organic, and careful cooking—can make them an impractical solution for many.
And let’s be honest, time is often the true measure of success when it comes to diet.
How often do we hear the refrain:
“I don’t have time to shop.”
“I don’t have time to eat breakfast.”
“I don’t have time to cook.”
Animal foods don’t demand this. Grass-fed beef doesn’t need sprouting. Oysters don’t need rinsing. They show up ready to nourish you with minimal fuss—ideal for a modern life where time is always the missing ingredient.
Now add the financial strain. Beyond grains and pulses, many plant-based foods are far from budget-friendly. Consider the cost of importing items like açai or avocado, which can rival a quality steak per kilogram.
And this isn’t to discredit these foods—they have their place. It’s just the reality.
This is why eliminating or under-consuming animal foods becomes a significant problem.
It risks leaving us nutritionally compromised while giving a false sense of dietary virtue.
A plant-based diet heavy in fibre, lectins, oxalates, and low-fat proteins (with perhaps a sprinkling of cheese) might tick a few boxes on paper but fails to deliver where it truly matters—bioavailable nutrients that nourish, repair, and sustain us.
Animal foods aren’t just a preference—they’re a cornerstone of a truly nutrient-dense, balanced diet.
Now that is something worth sitting down and chewing over.
Beyond Magnesium: A Broader Perspective
Bioavailability isn’t just a magnesium problem—it’s a nutrient problem.
It’s why we champion nutrient-dense, nose-to-tail eating at Oath.
Foods like liver, oysters (yep, we champion things we don't make), and grass-fed beef aren’t just packed with nutrients—they’re brimming with forms your body recognises and uses.
The plant-based narrative of the last decade, with its rainbow plates and double-digit plant goals, overlooks this. While plants are a vital part of any diet, relying on them for your core nutrition can leave you nutritionally short-changed.
When it comes to nutrition, the combination of nutrient density and bioavailability is paramount—think local, seasonal, and unprocessed food for optimal health. These choices align with nature’s rhythm, which is why they are at the core of the most effective dietary approaches.
Nourishing your body isn’t just about isolated nutrients; it’s about understanding their interplay, timing, and alignment with your lifestyle and environment. Eating with this precision transforms food from mere sustenance into a dynamic tool for vitality.
Maximising nutrient density and bioavailability is where Oath truly excels, offering you the tools to meet your health goals without compromise.
With the most nutrient-dense, high-quality sausages, burgers, and mince in the UK—if not the world— we support a sustainable, animal-based, nose-to-tail framework that frees you from obsessing over food. No more constant hunger, bloating, glucose rollercoasters, or creeping nutritional deficiencies.
I hope this article inspires you to think differently the next time you encounter those simplified viral takes on health and nutrition. While they may be technically correct on paper, the reality of how our bodies work is far more nuanced—and Oath is here to help you navigate it.
Until next Sunday,
R, J & N