Speaking of supplements...Calcium (warning - this is long)

[Guest guest]

Interesting info I found when looking into the water issue being

discussed here:

 

" Water from the ground comes with minerals, but these minerals are

in salt form. When salt is presented to the body (with rare

exceptions such as sodium chloride) it must be either stored or

excreted. A good example is CaCO3 (calcium carbonate). Carbonate is

not a sufficiently complex organic molecule and therefore cannot

properly contribute its calcium to living systems. The calcium comes

out instead in ionic form (with a positive charge) and precipitates

by forming other salts. Common locations for precipitation of

calcium are the lens of the eye (cataracts), the kidneys (kidney

stones) and the walls of arteries (arteriosclerosis).

 

CaCO3 comes from lime stone and comprises the bulk of most calcium

supplements, including that in " calcium enriched orange juice. " If

you want cataracts, kidney stones, and arteriosclerosis, be sure to

eat and drink plenty of " calcium enriched " foods. "

 

This was taken from the website of a company that sells water in

Florida (http://www.waterstore.us/faqs.html). A quick check of some

of the calcium supplements' ingredient labels being sold on

vitacost.com shows that a lot of these calcium supplements do indeed

get their calcium from calcium carbonate.

 

Some futher research on calcium supplementation found this from

Medicinet (http://www.medicinenet.com/calcium_carbonate/article.htm):

" Calcium carbonate-containing products reduce acidity in the

stomach, though there may be a rebound phenomenon which causes a

greater than normal amount of acid to be produced after the initial

acid-reducing effects of the calcium wear off. The reduction of acid

decreases the absorption of iron from the intestine. Therefore,

doses of calcium and iron should be separated by a several hours. "

 

 

Also, from the same source:

Calcium carbonate products contain 40% calcium (absorbable calcium).

Therefore, a 1500 mg tablet of calcium carbonate provides 600 mg of

calcium.

 

Contrary to the assertion that excess calcium can contribute to

cataracts and kidney stones above, from The World's Healthiest Foods

website (http://www.whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=nutrient & dbid=45):

" Calcium may play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of the

following health conditions:

 

Cataracts

Colon cancer

High blood pressure

Inflammatory bowel disease

Kidney stones

Osteoporosis

Polycystic ovarian syndrome

Pregnancy induced hypertension and preeclampsia

Premenstrual syndrome "

 

Also from WH Foods, the best sources of calcium from food sources:

" Excellent sources of calcium include spinach, turnip greens,

mustard greens and collard greens.

 

Very good sources of calcium include blackstrap molasses, Swiss

chard, yogurt, kale, mozzarella cheese, cow's milk, and goat's milk.

Basil, thyme, dill seed, cinnamon, and peppermint leaves are also

very good sources of calcium.

 

Good sources of calcium include romaine lettuce, celery, broccoli,

sesame seeds, fennel, cabbage, summer squash, green beans, garlic,

tofu, Brussel sprouts, oranges, asparagus and crimini mushrooms.

Oregano, rosemary, parsley, kombu, and kelp are also good sources of

calcium. "

 

Interesting that only 4 of the 35 good to excellent sources of

calcium are animal-derrived.

 

Obviously, I think the best way to get calcium is from our food, but

with all the hype over calcium supplementation out there, I thought

it would be interesting to dig a little deeper. My doctor tells me

that I have borderline low levels of calcium, and should take a

supplement. I almost fell off the exam table when I asked her if I

should just eat more spinach or something and got the response: " no,

just take a supplement. " Especially when there is debate, as

evidenced above, of whether the calcium in supplements is even

absorbable.

 

Jolene