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So here I've been taking calcium for years, both as a pre- and post-menopausal woman (husband as well to supposedly make strong bones). Turns out that it doesn't prevent weakened bones and fractures as much as it increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke. It seems that it is safe to get calcium from food, but not from supplements that release too much too quickly into the bloodstream. Glad that I can save some money in the future not buying calcium. On to decide about multi-vitamins, lutein, and flax seed oil....
I think I'd rather see a study that wasn't taken from participants who were exclusively from Germany. I'd also like to know what kind of health these people were in before they became participants (something more than "normal diet assessed using food frequency questionnaires"). I recall the WHI study and the subsequent HRT scare....but then we found out that many of the women in that study were not in good health to begin with, e.g. had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.
I've always be an advocate of getting my nutrients from healthful food rather than a pill. Plus I absolutely hate swallowing those big things LOL!
Agree...had so much trouble taking my pregnancy vitamins...yuck! My late father was prescribed a large dose of calcium and wound up with kidney stones!
I've always be an advocate of getting my nutrients from healthful food rather than a pill.
But how do you get 1200-1500 mg of calcium a day? That's a LOT of milk, cheese, yogurt and dark leafy greens. I don't drink three glasses a day of milk--not even close--so per my physician, I take one 500 mg calcium with Vitamin D pill in the a.m. and one in the p.m.
I'm reading a wonderful book called "The End of Illness," by Dr. David Agus. Dr. Agus is a well respected oncologist who recently appeared on "Morning Joe" (MSNBC) and he was very impressive. The book covers many other topics besides cancer, such as supplements and which ones help and which ones don't. He also explains how some studies are much more legitimate than others, depending upon how they were performed. I highly recommend the book to any health conscious reader.
One topic he covers is bisphosponates (osteoporosis drugs, i.e., Fosamax, etc.) and how having healthy bones helps prevent the spread of breast and colorectal cancer. Apparently, strong bones can stop the cancer from invading them, i.e., keeping breast cancer from spreading into the bone, as recently occurred with a friend whose breast cancer invaded her sternum.
Don't believe every study that comes along. Not all studies are created equal.
So here I've been taking calcium for years, both as a pre- and post-menopausal woman (husband as well to supposedly make strong bones). Turns out that it doesn't prevent weakened bones and fractures as much as it increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke. It seems that it is safe to get calcium from food, but not from supplements that release too much too quickly into the bloodstream. Glad that I can save some money in the future not buying calcium. On to decide about multi-vitamins, lutein, and flax seed oil....
I think you have to be careful with any vitamin supplement. I was recently put on B12 and had to stop taking it. My ears started to make ringing or rushing noises and altho I have stopped the Vitamin B12, my ears still make noises. Yes, I did hear about the Calcium supplement and was kind of aware that it could be an issue. I take blood pressure medication and one of the things they tell me to stay away from is Grapefruit and it is because of the calcium in the grapefruit. It is more than likely ok to drink a glass of milk, eat an orange or get calcium from different foods, however, for some reason, the calcium in the grapefruit does not act well with blood pressure medication. Also, make sure you get lots of leafy green veggies for the calcium.
My husband just told me that what also happens with the calcium supplements is that it will give you a blast of calcium that mixes with cholesterol and causes huge issues in your blood; especially for the elderly...didn't know that one!
I think you have to be careful with any vitamin supplement. I was recently put on B12 and had to stop taking it. My ears started to make ringing or rushing noises and altho I have stopped the Vitamin B12, my ears still make noises. Yes, I did hear about the Calcium supplement and was kind of aware that it could be an issue. I take blood pressure medication and one of the things they tell me to stay away from is Grapefruit and it is because of the calcium in the grapefruit. It is more than likely ok to drink a glass of milk, eat an orange or get calcium from different foods, however, for some reason, the calcium in the grapefruit does not act well with blood pressure medication. Also, make sure you get lots of leafy green veggies for the calcium.
My husband just told me that what also happens with the calcium supplements is that it will give you a blast of calcium that mixes with cholesterol and causes huge issues in your blood; especially for the elderly...didn't know that one!
Are you sure the noises in your ears are from the B-12? Maybe you have an ear problem that should be checked out by an ENT. Also, what study did your husband read about the Calcium? Was it a "double-blind, placebo-controlled study," which is the gold standard for clinical studies, because neither the participants nor the researchers know who received the real thing or the placebo, which is an inactive pill that looks like the vitamin, until the study is complete.
I repeat--don't believe everything you hear or read. Check out the quality of the study first. My sister-in-law stopped taking Fosamax because she read a negative article about it in a magazine. A year or so later she found out she had the very worst case of osteoporosis and had to have intervenous injections to try to stop the osteoporosis. SO, BE CAREFUL...
I think you have to be careful with any vitamin supplement. I was recently put on B12 and had to stop taking it. My ears started to make ringing or rushing noises and altho I have stopped the Vitamin B12, my ears still make noises. Yes, I did hear about the Calcium supplement and was kind of aware that it could be an issue. I take blood pressure medication and one of the things they tell me to stay away from is Grapefruit and it is because of the calcium in the grapefruit. It is more than likely ok to drink a glass of milk, eat an orange or get calcium from different foods, however, for some reason, the calcium in the grapefruit does not act well with blood pressure medication. Also, make sure you get lots of leafy green veggies for the calcium.
My husband just told me that what also happens with the calcium supplements is that it will give you a blast of calcium that mixes with cholesterol and causes huge issues in your blood; especially for the elderly...didn't know that one!
Grapefruit inhibits absorption of certain medications.
But how do you get 1200-1500 mg of calcium a day? That's a LOT of milk, cheese, yogurt and dark leafy greens. I don't drink three glasses a day of milk--not even close--so per my physician, I take one 500 mg calcium with Vitamin D pill in the a.m. and one in the p.m.
a few cups of non-fat organic yogurt
tofu
blackstrap molasses
almonds
greens greens greens (collard, spinach, kale, turnip, mustard, bok choy,etc) I stuff greens into everything I make! Tonight is homemade spaghetti sauce full of kale.
calcium fortified soymilk
brocolli
almond butter
sesame seeds
oatmeal
beans
I shoot for 1000-1200 mg.
I find it interesting that the countries with the highest dairy consumption also have the highest incidence of osteoporosis.
Best of health to you, CAforNow!
Last edited by bongo; 05-26-2012 at 06:11 PM..
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