Natural HealthFest March 23, 8:30-5:00 Plano Center–17 lectures, 100 exhibits.
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Healthy by Nature radio show this week: Nutritionist, author, instructor, Ara Wiseman, tells us about how she uses far infrared sauna to help clients. Compounding pharmacist, Dr. Donna Barsky, explains how nutrients help hormones. The Dirt Doctor, Howard Garrett, talks about organic care for yard, garden and home—we find out that we humans are a lot like plants. Click here to find podcasts, show archives and how to listen nationwide.
 
Calcified thinking
Calcium supplements have been in the news of late. Click here for Part 1 of this discussion. Before we get to the research that has caused the somewhat alarming headlines, let’s look at a couple of positive aspects of calcium just to put the matter in perspective:

A review of studies published just this January concluded that there was no evidence that Calcium has any adverse effect on cardiovascular health. LINK.

Another analysis published in December was a part of the famous Framingham Study. It found that calcium intake (through diet and supplements combined) were not linked to coronary artery calcification (i.e. hardening of the arteries) and in fact there was a non-significant trend toward a protective effect. LINK.

There is ongoing research into an apparent role for calcium/vitamin D in reducing the risk of ovarian cancer. LINK. Other studies have found a calcium link to prevention of various cancers.

Behind the headlines
Recently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) advised against healthy postmenopausal women taking low dose supplements of vitamin D and calcium to prevent fractures. The recommendations do not apply to persons who have already been diagnosed with bone thinning. The group hadn’t found conclusive proof that there is benefit in taking the supplements and believed that there might be an increased risk of kidney stones.

Their conclusions fly in the face of hundreds of published studies showing benefit from calcium and D. The USPSTF acknowledged that they really didn’t have enough information and even the Institute of Medicine countered their advice. However, that didn’t keep the networks and newspapers from running with the story and scaring people. (Hmm, while also boosting their ratings and selling papers.)

I have concerns about their recommendations. Most notably that a recent study that showed the opposite–increased calcium resulted in fewer kidney stones. LINK.

Oddly,the USPSTF warning was against taking “low doses” of calcium which they defined as 1,000 mg. I would consider that the maximum supplemental dose (unless a person somehow gets almost none in their food). The biggest issue with this and all the negative reports is what I discussed last week—calcium should be taken with the other nutrients that build bone. For example, what is needed to build bone that also protects against kidney stones? Magnesium!

An AARP/NIH study showed that calcium supplements raised the risk of heart problems in men but not women. LINK. I think it was near malpractice to let the participants take calcium without magnesium. For example, magnesium is important to protect from irregular heartbeat, a major cause of death from heart attack. High blood pressure is another well-known cardio risk factor for which docs often prescribe calcium channel blocker drugs that have side effects. Magnesium is a natural calcium channel blocker!

A Swedish study, reported in the British Medical Journal, suggested that calcium supplements might increase women’s risk of death from all causes including heart disease (but not stroke). LINK.

Reporters forgot to mention that the negative effects did not appear with the use of calcium pills except in the case of those who added calcium supplements to a daily dietary intake of 1,400 mg of calcium. The foods it would take to get that much calcium are notoriously low in magnesium. For example, a slice of cheddar cheese has 202 mg calcium but only 8 mg of magnesium. Also consider that such a large quantity of these calcium-rich foods (e.g. 5 glasses of milk or 7 ounces of cheese) might have negative health effects just from the calorie content or other components of those foods.

It is obvious that there are benefits of calcium and health risks from not getting enough. As noted last week, calcium and magnesium are rather competitive, so it stands to reason it is possible (although rare) to get too much magnesium at least in relationship to calcium.  The answer is to stay in balance by making sure your diet contains a good ratio of calcium and magnesium – e.g. at least ½ as much magnesium as calcium. That applies to supplements too. I’ll be glad when the researchers start factoring that in instead of studying the extremes of imbalance and then scaring us.

Again, for protecting bones, I always go back to Bone-Up by Jarrow because it contains a well-researched blend of bone-building nutrients and a highly superior form of calcium.
 
Last Week
LINK to Archive. TV personality, author and fungus fighter extraordinaire, Doug Kaufmann joined us to discuss news about corn and about asthma. In response to a caller’s question about Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Doug talked about the effects of fungus on Myelin (the nerve insulation that becomes damaged in this autoimmune disease). Here is the link he discussed. LINK. I’d also advise anyone dealing with MS to get their vitamin D levels checked (LINK) and to investigate the benefits of vitamin E. LINK. Then we talked with Nicole Wallace from the Kotsanis Institute about Autism, followed up by John West, a nutrition educator for Jarrow whom I asked about calcium supplements.

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My first book : Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers. Subtitle: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments.

My latest book: Aloe Vera-Modern Science Sheds Light on an Ancient Herbal Remedy

The information contained in this newsletter has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The contents are for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.

Copyright 2013 Martie Whittekin, CCN