Things To Think About With Calcium Supplementation
The BBC aired a documentary touting the benefits of calcium. And one of the benefits was its ability to block dietary fat from being digested.
Does this mean that extra calcium in your diet could aid fat loss?
Probably not. After looking at the numbers, I can honestly say that the amount fat you could potentially lose would not be that noticeable. Moreover, I have concerns about blocking the absorption of fat.
You see, certain fats are critical so that your body has the building blocks to produce key hormones.
And you also have to pay attention to the following dangers of high calcium intakes:
1. Reduced iron absorption. The human body is a very complex organism. If you do X there will always be effect Y. And calcium is NO exception here. Take too much calcium and you'll impair the absorption of iron. And iron is critical for bringing oxygen to all your tissues?
2. Lower amounts of calcium. If you take a bunch of antacids to get more calcium, you should probably stop. Why? Because certain minerals in antacids can actually leave you with a net negative amount of calcium!
3. Kidney stones. Although this usually doesn't affect healthy individuals, if you have any history of kidney disease then you have to see a doctor before supplementing with calcium. Stones are very painful?
4. Overdose of vitamin D. Vitamin D is the new kid on the block. Everyone under the sun is recommending high intakes of Vitamin D, even Harvard University researchers. HOWEVER, too much of anything is bad for you. If you already have a high amount of Vitamin D in your diet, taking a calcium supplement which is usually fortified with Vitamin D could put you over the top.
A little extra calcium is not going to hurt you. But you do have to be careful with large amounts of supplementation or you run the risk of damaging your health. And remember that when supplementing with any type of nutrient, there are always risks to consider.