Here is why you should avoid isolated calcium supplements
One of the biggest misconceptions in health care today is that calcium is the only mineral needed for healthy bones. The truth is, supplementing calcium without the cofactors it needs to be used optimally in the body, can actually lead to increased calcifications in our soft tissues and create multiple health issues.
In this article, we will look at why supplementing with too much calcium can be dangerous and what you should consider doing instead.
First of all, what is calcium?
There are 24 vitamins and minerals required for optimal health in your God designed body and calcium is one of them. It is considered a macro mineral due to the large amounts required in the diet and it is mostly found in dairy products and vegetables. It plays a role in processes like:
Blood clotting
Reducing lactic acid build up
Maintaining pH balance
The amount of calcium your body needs is individual to you. Here are a few things to consider before supplementing with calcium alone:
Calcium has a strong relationship to other minerals like magnesium and vitamins like vitamin D and vitamin K2. Magnesium regulates calcium and stimulates calcitonin to draw calcium out of soft tissue and deposit it into bones. Excess of magnesium will lower calcium, and excess calcium will lower magnesium. Many people today are already significantly depleted in Magnesium due to chronic stress, which leads to increased cellular calcium. Dosing too high with calcium can worsen magnesium deficiency which creates a whole other host of health conditions.
In order for the body to absorb calcium, good strong stomach acid is needed. Many people today suppress their stomach acid by over using over the counter heart burn drugs like TUMS or prescription strength such as pantaprozole. Using these consistently over time impacts the gut and it’s capacity to break down and use food as fuel. Another thing to consider is that order to maintain a balance pf calcium in the body, adequate intestinal absorption of calcium is needed. Studies have also shown that a reduction of gastric acidity may impair effective calcium uptake through the intestine. So before considering supplementation, be sure you have good strong stomach acid on board. My favorite way to increases stomach acid is with Digestive Bitters, but we sure to check with your doctor first.
Is calcium needed for bone strength?
Calcium is a building block for bone strength, however, studies repeatedly show that higher calcium intake does not help bones long-term.
Growth and repair of bones requires multiple nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, boron, vitamin D, and vitamin K2.
In addition, flexible bones are made up of a matrix of protein. We typically become vulnerable to fractures as we age because we stop digesting protein well and/or (for women at least) our progesterone and estrogen levels plummet. Without sufficient protein, dense bones can still be brittle. This can often be due to low stomach acid.
Strong bones are fortified with a rich mix of minerals including magnesium, boron, strontium, magnesium, manganese, and calcium. Vitamin K2 is particularly critical to ensure the calcium you eat actually makes it into your bones (vs. more dangerous places like your kidneys or the lining of your arteries).
So Should You Supplement?
In short, it depends! If you do choose to supplement, I hope I made it clear that it is super important to consider the synergistic relationship between minerals + vitamins in the body and your overall gut health to avoid causing more symptoms.
I highly recommend beginning with a Hair Mineral Analysis Test to obtain a baseline of your minerals and to help pick your starting point. You can request your test in Tier 2 of My Membership + Receive 1 recorded results review + 1 individualized protocol creation.
Sources:
Happy, Sexy, + Healthy by Nancy Deville
The Calcium Lie: What Your Doctor Still Doesn’t Know
Gastric Acid, Calcium Absorption, and Their Impact on Bone Health
