There is more calcium in your body than any other vitamin or mineral. For that reason alone, it holds a vital role in keeping your body healthy. We all know of its bone- preserving abilities, as osteoporosis is directly caused by your not having enough calcium in your bones. Your muscles, blood vessels, hormones, neurotransmitters, nerves, and heart all need calcium, too. Your blood pressure would skyrocket without adequate levels of calcium.
A new study is now heaping one more piece of intriguing information on the pile. It has found that for middle-aged adults, calcium not only keeps the bones strong but it also prevents weight gain. In an era of rising obesity rates, this is very significant. Researchers found that taking calcium seemed to have the best impact on maintaining one’s weight and preventing extra pounds from being added on.
Funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute, U.S. researchers tracked 10,000 men and women in their 50s for the better part of a decade. The results were published this month in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. They looked at the level of calcium these people were getting in both food and supplements, and analyzed weight fluctuations in the participants. Essentially, drinking lots of milk didn’t significantly affect weight change, but taking calcium supplements did. It corresponded to weight loss.
They can’t accurately recommend calcium for weight loss, but this evidence suggests that calcium supplements can safely and effectively be taken for reasons other than just the prevention of osteoporosis. For women, the effect on weight was greater. For now, know that to simultaneously strengthen bones and trim the waistline, you have a new option on the table.
Now, which kind of calcium supplement is best? There is calcium derived naturally from bones, shells, and the earth itself. Getting about 500 mg in each tablet is the best way to get a big calcium kick. You need to be cautious, however, as some supplements may have high hidden levels of lead. “Calcium carbonate” is what you see most often in the store — and it’s cheapest. It is a bit harder to absorb, so take carbonate with meals, as the stomach acid is in digestive action already.
The last group is called “chelated” calcium. Both “citrate” and “citrate malate” are better absorbed than carbonate, and are routinely prescribed by doctors. They would be the clear favorites if it were not for their more expensive cost and bulkier size. To get the intended effects many individuals have to take about five big pills a day, which can be a difficult thing to do. So, realistically, take calcium carbonate at two separate doses of 500 mg a day.
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Tags: general health advice, obesity, zone diet
