Conflicts about Calcium supplementation

[cartersmom]

It seems that I need to take a calcium supplement...at least for the time being.

I had abnormal bloodwork at my last physical. My Alkaline Phosphatase was elevated. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that it was my bone isoenzyme that was elevated. This means that there is a faster than normal turning over of cells within my bones. Anyway long story short and seeing a specialist revealed that the most likely cause if this is that fact that I am breastfeeding and I have been restricting dairy as it seems to aggravate my son's skin. I had always been wary about supplementing with calcium because I have read that too much clacium can actually cause problems. I have never taken calcium regularly and quite frankly, and maybe stupidly, never thought I needed to even though I had been restricting dairy products. Anyway they think that the combination of the BF and lack of dairy (not enough calcium) is causing the calcium to be leached from my bones to be made avaliable for the baby. Hence I have been instructed to take calcium supplements. I am also trying to eat more goat milk products (which are not easy to com by where I am in the US and when you find them they are $$$$$$$) as they don't seem to bother my son.
I am looking to find the most bioavaliable form of calcium and have read conflicting things. This little tidbit says that it doesn't matter what kind you take, it has more to do with the when you take it and the quality of the supplement. http://www.all-one.com/en/newsletter/articlecalciumconfusion.htm Anyone have any particular knowledge about calcium supplements?? I am off to read Hilary's Bone sticky to see if I can find any info there :)

[Seaweed]

I don't know too much about supplementing with calcium. I think you need certain other minerals present for it to be worth doing such as boron & there is also other balance issue with other minerals?

If you are not a vegetarian, bone broths are a very good way to get minerals in a very easily absorbed form. Especially calcium. There is a thread about it in the living for a better world forum here. We get raw milk here & it is seasonal so I do bone broths for the kids in the winter instead. I make things like soups, gravies & stews daily with it. We have baked pumpkin custards for breakfast as well. What I do is cook the pumpkin, squash or kumara in bone broth with some spice. Mash & mix in eggs & honey or palm sugar & then bake like a crustless pumpkin pie. If you like the taste, you can drink mugs of hot chicken broth or beef broth instead of coffee.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

I completely disagree with whoever said that you need to supplement calcium.

Bone turnover can be caused by not having the supplementary minerals needed to lock in the calcium, so it could be that magnesium, boron, silica etc are much more important for you than calcium.

the URL put up, said:
Unfortunately, despite supplementation, osteoporosis remains prevalent.Actually, supplementation has made it worse. because calcium isn't what is needed.

in order to have strong bones, you need the right minerals AND impact exercise, or bone loading.

if your vitamin D levels are crap, forget about absorbing calcium. If your vitamin K levels are crap, forget about pulling the calcium phos minerals into the bone matrix.

Frankly that article is so simplistic that it's just an advertorial designed to create a dependency market.

We are designed to have strong bones, if we live the way we are meant to.

Seaweeds suggestions are good ones. Get plenty of sun, good food, bone loading exercise, grow a garden, and your bones will take care of themselves.

run some chooks, if you can. Eggs are the perfect food.

If you want to remind me of your email by emailing me, I can send you two pdfs on bone minerals from bergners book.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

They are too big to upload here. I don't think we've sorted out the pdf business yet...

[magical1]

Hey there

Was just reading this thread and it made me remember a PDF I have about the osteoperosis industry.

I know it is off topic but this article is a must read and an excellent one to pass onto women who have been convinced into taking drugs for their bones. It seems misinformation is rife amongst bone specialists.

http://www.s2cycle.com/Truth_About_Bones.pdf

Hilary you may want to move it to your bone thread... up to you.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Just duplicate your post to the bone thread :D Great pdf that one.

[Seaweed]

FTR dh has a friend ( who is male ) who has had serious osteoporosis for years now. He breaks bones twisting around too quickly. He has calcium supplements the size of horse tranquilisers. No improvement in condition has resulted from these.

[Quickening]

My MIL is another calcium pusher. She has calcium reinforced everything, and she has calcium supplements too and is developing bone spurs on her feet. You'd think they'd notice that what they were doing wasnt working and be inclined to start looking at other options. Great PDF there!

[magical1]

Quickening, pass that PDF onto her to have a read. It's a nice simple one but really pushes home an important message.

[Barefoot]

New era do a homeopathic combination tissue salt called something like "teething formula"
Its highly recommemded for people with bone problems too as teeth and bones are very similar in composition.
Blackstrap molases contains very high levels of things like absorbable calcium, potassium, magnesium.

[cartersmom]

I completely disagree with whoever said that you need to supplement calcium.

Bone turnover can be caused by not having the supplementary minerals needed to lock in the calcium, so it could be that magnesium, boron, silica etc are much more important for you than calcium.

the URL put up, said: Actually, supplementation has made it worse. because calcium isn't what is needed.

in order to have strong bones, you need the right minerals AND impact exercise, or bone loading.

if your vitamin D levels are crap, forget about absorbing calcium. If your vitamin K levels are crap, forget about pulling the calcium phos minerals into the bone matrix.

Frankly that article is so simplistic that it's just an advertorial designed to create a dependency market.

We are designed to have strong bones, if we live the way we are meant to.

Seaweeds suggestions are good ones. Get plenty of sun, good food, bone loading exercise, grow a garden, and your bones will take care of themselves.

run some chooks, if you can. Eggs are the perfect food.

If you want to remind me of your email by emailing me, I can send you two pdfs on bone minerals from bergners book.

I know my vit level is ok since I just had it tested (49). As for vit K know knows?? I hear what you are saying about calcium supplementation and that was my initial feeling as well. But with my situation with the lack of calcium from the diet (no diary) coupled with the breastfeeding, Im not sio sure. My bone isoenzyme levels have always been fine and I'm not developing osteoporosis....I am starting to incorporate more calcium from food as I really don't want to do the Calcium supplemets. I am going to get my isoenzyme levels retested this week. Hopefully dietary changes have been enough. I am also planning on getting a good mineral supplement. I will PM you my email Hi,ary for those PDF's many thanks