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–expect fun. TV personality, author and fungus fighter extraordinaire, Doug Kaufmann joins us to discuss news about corn and about asthma. Then we talk with Nicole Wallace from the Kotsanis Institute about Autism, followed up by John West, a nutrition educator who I will ask about calcium supplements. Call the live show with questions at 1-800-281-8255. Click here to find podcasts, show archives and how to listen nationwide.
 
Mineral Balancing Act
The recent news and views on calcium supplements have been so darned contradictory and confusing that I don’t really know where to start unraveling the mess. Maybe it is safest if I just start at the end and work backward. So, here is my bottom-line advice:

Most importantly, make quite sure that you get enough of the mineral MAGNESIUM. Magnesium and calcium are rather competitive with each other and can have opposite effects. Magnesium not only balances calcium and is essential to keep your heart beating regularly, it is required for hundreds of other processes in the body. Most mass market (drug, grocery and discount store) calcium supplements contain only calcium (and more recently vitamin D). That is a problem in light of the fact that most Americans do not get enough magnesium from their diet.

The biggest danger in supplementation among the uninitiated is that they tend to learn a little about one mineral and get excited about it. They start taking a high dose of that one without realizing that they might be creating an imbalance with one or more others.

Eat foods that contain both calcium and magnesium. For example, dark green leafy vegetables are rich in calcium as well as magnesium. Spinach is an especially good source of both calcium and magnesium. Almonds are a good source of calcium but contain even more magnesium. In fact, most unrefined foods of plant origin contain calcium. Therefore, a vegetable-rich whole foods diet can supply adequate calcium automatically balanced with magnesium. By comparison, milk and milk products may have 8 times as much calcium as magnesium. Whole grains provide more magnesium than calcium. You can see the value of having variety in a whole foods diet and not depending too heavily on dairy.

Supplement but wisely. Despite recent hemming and hawing, supplementing calcium and vitamin D does help bones. LINK. (And, there certainly seems to be less risk in taking calcium supplements than in taking the scary osteoporosis drugs that can increase risk of certain fractures and even jaw bone deterioration.) That said, more isn’t necessarily better. If the diet is good, then it isn’t necessary to supplement calcium (or magnesium) at as high a dose.

It is crucial to remember that it takes a lot more than calcium, vitamin D and even magnesium to make bone. It also takes vitamin K as well as other minerals such as manganese, zinc and boron. That is why I almost always recommend a complete bone formula rather than just a Cal/Mag and the one I suggest is almost always Bone-Up by Jarrow. It has all of those things and more in the proper balance, along with a highly superior form of calcium.

Next week I’ll point out some issues with the studies behind the most recent scary headlines as well as what the reporting missed. But, I’ll leave you today with a link to a study that was published all the way back in December of 2012. It said that not only was no link found between high calcium intake (even from supplements) and calcification of arteries (a major cardio risk) but, in fact, high calcium intake might have been protective. LINK.

[This was part one. Click here to read part 2.]
 
Last Week
LINK to Archive. I talked with Deborah Z. Bain, M.D., FAAP. Her clinic in Frisco, TX is called Healthy Kids Pediatrics. We talked about her integrative treatment of children, but first I asked about her book, How The Chiropractor Saved My Life: My Journey To Wellness and Beyond. Dr. Bain is exhibiting at Natural HealthFest. I also talked with another guest/exhibitor, Barbara Jones, briefly about a special pillow that she manufactures (I love mine) and Andy Hopkins interviewed Troy Ottwell (another exhibitor) about the laser toothbrush he imports that helps gums and tooth sensitivity. (I love mine).

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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