Stop Taking Calcium

[StephenX]

Tuesday, May 29, 2012 5:57 PM
By Kathleen Walter and Charlotte Libov

Read more: Top Heart Doctor Chauncey Crandall: Stop Taking Calcium

Many women are reconsidering their long-held habit of taking daily calcium supplements to protect their bones in the light of a new study showing that the pills drastically raise heart attack risk.
One of the nation’s top cardiologists, Dr. Chauncey Crandall, says he has long been warning his patients against taking calcium.
“We’ve known for a while that calcium supplements raise heart attack risk, and now here’s a study that totally confirms it,” said Dr. Crandall, chief of the cardiac transplant program at the world-renowned Palm Beach Cardiovascular Clinic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

A report published recently in the journal Heart found that the popular supplements, taken largely by women, raise the risk of having a heart attack by a shocking 86 percent.

Read more: Top Heart Doctor Chauncey Crandall: Stop Taking Calcium

[StephenX]

There is plenty of calcium in the average diet. The problem is most people do not get enough magnesium, vitamin D3 and vitamin K2. These three nutrients are crucial to proper calcium utilization. Errant calcium combines with oxidized cholesterol to form arterial plaque.

[Aaltrude]

You hit the nail on the head about not getting enough magnesium. One of the roles magnesium plays in the body is to keep calcium in solution rather than precipitating out in areas where it can cause harm such as the heart and kidneys.

I have found by trial and error that I do need to take a small amount of calcium as judged by what it takes to prevent getting cramps in bed at night. The ratio I need is about four times as much magnesium as calcium with the amount of calcium being only approx 15% of the RDA. I also need to make sure I get enough sodium chloride in the mix as well to prevent cramps.
Everyone is different in their requirements and you need to learn how to "listen" to your body to work out what is needed.

[Islander]

Stephen, I recently had a bone scan and posted the results in the Blogspot. At an age where many women are on osteoporosis meds, my bones are well into the green zone. I eat cheese and green leafies, and I juice them too. I take NO supplemental calcium.

[Aaltrude]

Way to go Islander.
I have never had a bone scan but recently I had a major fall from my bicycle, connecting with handlebars as well as the road on the way down, coming out of it with only grazed skin and bruising. I got up dusted myself off and continued with the bike ride. To me this suggests a reasonable amount of bone strength and flexibility.

[highlander]

Cheese!

[StephenX]

Stephen, I recently had a bone scan and posted the results in the Blogspot. At an age where many women are on osteoporosis meds, my bones are well into the green zone. I eat cheese and green leafies, and I juice them too. I take NO supplemental calcium.

Good for you. Glad to hear someone is doing it right.

[LabDoc]

Aaltrude, I was under the impression that sodium chloride exacerbated cramps, but maybe in your mix, it functions differently

[Reesacat]

Thanks StephenX for a great article — an 86% risk of a heart attack from doing just one thing is very very significant risk. I don't take supplemental calcium and actually had to quit taking magnesium after being on the Wahl's protocol. I am eating so many veggies (9 cups a day veggies alone plus 3-4 fruits) that I am getting plenty of minerals along with bone broth.

[Aaltrude]

Aaltrude, I was under the impression that sodium chloride exacerbated cramps, but maybe in your mix, it functions differently

LabDoc - I eat almost no processed foods therefore virtually all the salt in my diet is what I add. Maybe that is why I am noticing that I do need a certain amount to help prevent cramps.

[Aaltrude]

This is an article recently posted by GMI that gives some balance to this issue.
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/ong...looking-basics
I'll also post it as a separate topic.

[Mr. Wizard]

@Aaltrude: Thanks for posting the GMI article. It was very informative, especially the info. on most forms of supplemental calcium are not absorbed by the body. Apparently, calcium-citrate is the most absorbable. Really good stuff!!