The Modern Calcium Myth:

When Not Enough became Too Much and Harmful

By Dr. Anna Walden, HealthWalk™ Vital Hematology Department

If you ask anyone what they need to have strong bones, the likely response is “Calcium.” But the fact is that the strength of bones relies on at least 11 other minerals. Specifically, the minerals in bones are: Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese, Silica, Iron, Zinc, Selenium, Boron, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Chromium in addition to traces of many other minerals. The body’s need for minerals is well documented by the science of Biochemistry. Our body is made up of approximately 28% minerals. Our bodies cannot make minerals. Minerals have to be ingested and absorbed from our food. But not just minerals in any quantity and proportion - mineral balance is necessary for the proper absorption of vitamins, amino acids and other vital nutrients. Minerals have specific charges and have to be in balance to work properly in the body.

In fact, most people are mineral deficient in many ways. But that problem is not resolved by the food industry’s addition and promotion of Calcium in baby food, pasta, orange juice, water and other food products. The body’s balance of minerals is thrown off by the excess Calcium and the overload of Calcium has to go somewhere. Instead of going to help make super strong bones, the excess Calcium contributes to creating plaque in the arteries, kidney stones, gall stones, bone spurs, osteoarthritis, hypertension and other unhealthy conditions and diseases.

How current is this news? In 1991 the International Journal of Cardiology published cardiologist Dr. Stephen Seely’s treatise entitled, “Is Calcium Excess in the Western Diet a Major Cause of Arterial Disease?” He makes the point that countries with daily calcium intake is in the range of 200-400mg, arterial diseases are non-existent and blood pressure does not increase with age. Whereas in countries such as the United States, New Zealand, Scandinavian countries, and Ireland, where daily intake is 800mg or greater, the leading cause of death is arterial disease. Dr. Seely points out that arterial plaque is only 3% cholesterol but 50% calcium.

Dr. Seely’s recommendation? Reduce calcium consumption only to the level needed by the body. He says, “This could be achieved only by drastically making cuts in consumption of milk.” (and other dairy products)

In 1974, the California Milk Producers Advisory board was ordered by the Federal Trade Commission to stop its “false, misleading and deceptive advertising campaign” called “Everybody needs milk.” This slogan became then, “Milk has something for everybody.” Eventually we got the white upper-lipped celebrity challenge, “Got Milk?” And yet The Nurses Health Study co-authored by Walter Willett, Ph.D. who was the Chairman of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, found that the women who had the highest calcium consumption sustained substantially more fractures than their counterparts who drank less milk.

Post menopausal women are particularly singled out to consume more calcium to ward off osteoporosis. The British Medical Journal in January of 2008 published a study done to assess effects of calcium supplements on healthy postmenopausal women’s risk for cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke and sudden death. For five years 1,471 postmenopausal women were observed. Half of them were given 1000mg per day of supplemental calcium citrate and half were given a placebo. The group which was supplemented with calcium had a 47% higher occurrence of heart attack, stroke, or sudden death. Researchers, headed by Dr. Ian Reid, concluded that "Calcium supplementation in healthy postmenopausal women is associated with upward trends in cardiovascular event rates. This potentially detrimental effect should be balanced against the likely benefits of calcium on bone".

Other indicators of excess calcium are breast arterial calcification. Calcium binds with phosphate to form hard and bony structures when the calcium crystals accumulate in tissues other than the bones and the teeth.

Hypertension can be treated by a class of drugs known as “calcium-channel blockers.” (*Common names of these drugs are below) They are necessary when there is excess calcium in the body. They block the calcium’s role in contracting muscles in the heart and arteries and relaxing muscles so that the blood pressure is directly lowered. If there is no excess calcium, then the calcium-channel blockers would not be necessary. The European Cardiology Society made us aware of the danger of these drugs. About 85,000 avoidable heart attacks and cases of heart failure on a yearly basis are blamed on this type of drug.

If you already have the diagnosis of osteoporosis, then it is imperative to replace not one but all of the minerals responsible for the strength of the bones. Supplementation with the right kind of minerals is an excellent first step. Eliminating dairy products and avoiding fatty meats is important. And weight-bearing exercises are another key to regaining and maintaining bone integrity.

An action plan created by a health professional can get you set upon the right track. At HealthWalk we have Functional Nutritional Consultation, Comprehensive Wellness Profile (biomarkers analysis) and Vital Hematology live blood ananlysis among other services and products which can provide you with the information and support to achieve the proper health balance.

The addition of good salt in the diet is essential. All the minerals are present in sea salt. By taking the proper salt, the body is able to make Hydrochloric Acid for the breakdown of proteins in the food. Good salt is one simple but highly effective way to re-mineralize.

Further testing can and should be done at regular intervals to monitor your progress. We invite you to come to HealthWalk and experience our integrated and leading edge modalities so that you can take more control of your own health and wellness.

Common names of Calcium Channel Blockers Drug: (Adalat (nifedipine), Calan (verapamil), Cardene (nicardipine), Cardizem (diltiazem), Cardizem CD (diltiazem), Cardizem SR (diltiazem), Cartia (diltiazem), Covera-HS (verapamil), Dilacor XR (diltiazem), Diltia XT (diltiazem), DynaCirc (isradipine), Isoptin (verapamil), Lotrel (amlodipine), Nimotop (nimodipine), Norvasc (amlodipine), Plendil (felodipine), Procardia (nifedipine), Procardia XL (nifedipine), Sular (nisoldipine), Tiamate (diltiazem),Tiazac (diltiazem), Vascor (bepridil), Verelan (verapamil)