What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Calcium
By
Natalie Moore
Posted October 15, 2016
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
“Eat dairy and leafy greens… and always take a calcium supplement for healthy bones.”
If you’ve ever gone to a doctor’s appointment, then you’ve probably heard this advice.
But it’s not just your doctor… the big push for calcium as the ultimate bone protectant is everywhere… food labels, nutritional guidelines and lucrative supplements.
It seems all of this urging has worked — the National Institutes of Health estimates that close to half of Americans are taking calcium supplements.
Here’s the problem, though: Calcium supplements aren’t just affecting your bones. They can also have major impacts on your heart.
And thanks to some recent research — there’s proof calcium supplements could be wrecking your heart health.
Calcium Puts Your Heart in Crisis
A newly published study in the Journal of the American Heart Association analyzed 10 years of medical tests on 2,700 plus people who were enrolled in a federally funded heart disease research program.
The participants ages varied from 45–85 years of age and answered questions about their eating habits and supplement usage.
Next, they underwent CT scans that measured the buildup of calcium plaque in their arteries (also called arterial stiffness), a known risk factor for heart issues.
After analyzing the data, the researchers separated calcium intake by source — food or supplement.
Once all the numbers were crunched, the scientists made an astonishing discovery…
Folks who took calcium supplements were at a significantly greater risk of calcium plaque buildup in their arteries and risk for heart disease when compared to those who got calcium from foods.
This means taking a calcium supplement could wreck your heart.
Dr. Erin Michos, lead researcher of the study, explains, “When it comes to using vitamin and mineral supplements, particularly calcium supplements being taken for bone health, many Americans think that more is always better. But our study adds to the body of evidence that excess calcium in the form of supplements may harm the heart and vascular system”
On the contrary, researchers found that eating calcium-rich foods may actually help protect your heart, though the reason for this still remains unclear.
Michos goes on to say, “There doesn’t seem to be any harm in eating a heart-healthy diet that includes calcium-rich foods, and it may even be beneficial for the heart. But patients should really discuss any plan to take calcium supplements with their doctor to sort out a proper dosage or whether they even need them.”
Put another way, don’t just do what the doctor tells you. Let them know you’re informed about the dangers of excess calcium and then continue the conversation about if a calcium supplement is right for you.
And be sure to eat lots of foods rich in calcium, like dairy, leafy greens, broccoli, beans and certain fruits (like oranges).
So ditch the drugs and pick up some kale, cheese and beans while you’re out shopping this weekend — for your heart’s sake.
In addition, vitamins D3 and K2 are great ways to keep calcium out of your heart. Vitamin D3 helps your body absorb calcium. Then vitamin K2 helps direct absorbed calcium into your bones and away from your arteries. So be sure put these two powerful vitamins on your shopping list too.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Sources
[1] Calcium supplements may damage the heart
Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
NEW Medicinal Mushroom Benefit UNCOVERED
I’m a big fan of medicinal mushrooms. Almost everyone has eaten a standard mushroom on a pizza or in a spaghetti sauce, of course. But most folks have yet to experience medical mushrooms’ power to improve our health. Medicinal mushrooms are already used to treat heart, liver, and brain conditions. They can boost the immune...
[SENIORS] Cellular GLITCH Discovered?!
Aging isn’t for sissies, that’s for sure. But hey, I always remind myself the alternative is FAR worse! Besides, when you sit back and take stock, you’ll realize that a life well lived – like your own – is something to be proud of. But those accomplishments, unfortunately, don’t reduce your risk of suffering the...
Overlooked Diabetes Risk Drives Up Blood Sugar
If you’re concerned about diabetes, you’ve probably done your research. You likely focused on all the common problem areas to ward off rising blood sugar: the grocery store… the gym… and the bathroom scale. And those ARE all great places to start! Eating better, exercising, and losing weight can go a long way toward bringing your...
Boredom BUSTING Hack Keeps You Sane AND Healthy
This time of year, I start to feel a little stir-crazy. Cabin fever sets in as I tire of the cold and snow. And I start thinking about the warmer weather that’s right around the corner (but still feels SO far away). You see, I enjoy walking, hiking, and running outside. It’s good for both...
Loneliness Linked to THIS Startling Side Effect
Before the pandemic, we didn’t talk much about being lonely. But when the virus locked us down in our homes, the issue of isolation could no longer be ignored. Some of us were experiencing that kind of loneliness for the first time. But the truth is social isolation has ALWAYS been a common problem for...
MAILBAG: Ease Prostate Problems NATURALLY
“Are there any natural solutions for an enlarged prostate?” -Mike from Summerville, South Carolina Hi Mike, There are many things you can do to improve your prostate health. Eating better is the first step. This means loading up on nutritious foods, including plenty of fresh organic vegetables and lean meats. (And yes, that DOES mean...
Ditch Depression WITHOUT Drugs
You think that when you reach “your golden years,” you won’t have much to worry about anymore. After all, many of life’s major stressors, like work, kids, and relationships, are pretty much settled by the time you hit your sixties. So why the heck are we all so darned depressed then?! According to a recent...
The Ovarian Cancer Risk You NEVER Saw Coming
Cancer research is nothing new. In fact, we’ve been studying this killer since the 1800s. Yet despite all that investigating, there’s still so much we DON’T know. That’s why each time we reach a new milestone in our understanding of cancer, it should be celebrated. And a recent study has helped us make another large...
Weird Supermarket Secret BEATS Sunburn
In the winter, we tend to ignore the importance of protecting our skin from the sun’s powerful rays. But where I live, in Colorado, I see many folks come down from the ski areas with “raccoon eyes.” This happens when skiers’ faces burn, but the areas around their eyes remain pale because they wear goggles....
[REVEALED]: Bizarre Link Between Shampoo and Diabetes?!
If I were to ask you what you think the risk of getting diabetes from your shampoo is, you’d probably do two things: Laugh Go looking for another doctor And to be honest, I wouldn’t blame you. After all, connecting shampooing your hair to blood sugar levels seems absurd. But not so fast. The disturbing...