Eating Like a Cow to Get Your Calcium vs. Supplements
Does your doctor harp on you to take your calcium supplements every day, especially if you’re post menopausal? Two out of three of my doctors do. However, after more research, I’m rethinking calcium supplements being the right choice for me.
Many experts are saying with our 1.5 grams of calcium requirements, women can get all the calcium they need from their food without the need of supplements which can cause more harm than good. Your thoughts?
Listen to my 2.5 minute interview with Brandon Amalani, owner of a whole foods and supplements co-op called Shenblossom. He believes there’s a lot of misinformation out their about calcium and so do the experts I quote below.
What’s Your Take on Taking Calcium?
I found many sources that play devil’s advocate to my primary care doc’s view of advocating calcium supplements in midlife. I’ll start with Dr. Robert Thompson from Anchorage, Alaska, and his co-authored book, The Calcium Lie. In the video below and his book, he repeats over and over that calcium hardens concrete but what are bones are deficient in is minerals.
Dr. Anne Marie Colbin, author of the new book A Whole Foods Approach to Bone Health, advocates getting our calcium from green plants like cows get it from grass. Ameet Matura, a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and blogger at Rice of Life, agrees. Matura urges women not to be brainwashed by former calcium myths and to practice the new wellness curriculum he follows that integrate Western nutritional science with Eastern traditions like Ayurveda and Macrobiotics.
“Should anyone be taking calcium supplements? In my opinion, absolutely not.
Thomas E. Levy, MD, Optimal Nutrition for Optimal Health, 2001, Pg. 132.
If you need further evidence, a Harvard Nurses Study that found women who drink two or more glasses of milk per day have a 50% greater chance of bone fractures than those who drink more than one glass per week.
And while good intentioned calcium supplements, don’t guarantee that extra calcium will go to your bones. Calcium from these supplements often flood our bloodstream, which looks for any place to deposit it (including our kidneys and other organs), which can cause other health complications.
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, just a extremely health conscious woman over 45 who wants to live a long, healthy life taking as few pills and supplements as possible.
What’s your stance?
Get Your Free Reinvent Your Look eBook!
I believe that you are experiencing the best time of your life right now.
In my new eBook I will show you timeless beauty tips used by legendary beauties like Cher, Tina Turner and Audrey Hepburn. Now is the time to flaunt yourself not hide yourself or make excuses!
The best part is that my new eBook is yours for Free.
Just enter your best email to tell me where to send it.
Category: Health & Happiness
I channel Dharma, Meg Ryan and Erma Bombeck while helping boomers find their groove and mojo. Light some incense, drink wine, bang your drum and love this part of your life with all your soul. It's time to shake you Boho bon bons honey.
I’m glad you addressed this because I have wondered. I am seeing an ayurvedic-trained MD who does advocate for calcium supplements, but she’s specific about what type. And, of course, her recommendations are based on the foundation of eating clean and living well.
So my stance is still TBD. Thanks for this info!
Yes my yoga instructor/nutritionist/chiropractor highly recommended the Standard Process brand calcium be taken 3x a daily along with Cataplex F to help it be absorbed — but I have found not other confirming reasons to continue with this regime or expense. I’m feeling my diet with lots of whole foods and greens instead. Best of luck in your decision.
I can’t take calcium as it makes me retch. I can’t drink milk either. I am borderline osteopina…what’s a girl to do? And I don’t want to take Fosomax type drugs.
Shelley, I love your wit but I hope your bones are strong through load-bearing exercises given you disdain for milk and its substitutes. Based on your lovely photo you look healthy as Marilyn Monroe — the Queen of blondes. Do you like Kale, cabbage, Tofu or broccoli?