Over the last 3 articles, I have been writing about nutrients that you are most likely deficient in. This week I am going to share with you the 1 supplement that you are probably getting too much of, and worse yet if you are a senior, it’s a supplement that your doctor has probably told you to take to avoid hip and other bone fractures. As I am sure you have probably guessed, we are talking about CALCIUM.
Too much calcium (hypercalcemia) can cause a host of health problems, some of which you may currently be suffering from. Common symptoms of hypercalcemia include Anxiety, Bone Pain, Arrythmias, Insomnia, Constipation, Excessive Urination, Cramps, High Blood Pressure, Asthma and Soft Tissue Calcifications. This last one, soft tissue calcifications, is one that I commonly see in woman over 50yo and the elderly population. It shows up on lumbar (low back) x-rays in the form of a calcified abdominal aorta. This is the major blood vessel that supplies blood to the lower extremities and organs of the abdomen. If there is a blood vessel that I want to be healthy, the abdominal aorta is certainly one of them. Other soft tissue calcifications that occur that involve too much calcium are kidney stones, gallstones, cataracts and arthritis. Does that sound like someone you know?
So what can you do if your body is not transporting and using the calcium that is “stuck” in your body? My first recommendation is to stop taking or reduce your calcium supplements. This is especially true if the supplement that you are taking is Calcium Carbonate. Calcium carbonate is commonly used in supplements because it is cheap, unfortunately calcium carbonate is basically limestone or rocks. If you want this type of calcium, go lick the sidewalk outside because that is basically what you are taking.
A good calcium supplement would be calcium citrate that includes magnesium, vitamin D3 and vitamin K2. These are co-factors that assist your body in utilizing and transporting calcium away from soft tissues and into bones where the calcium belongs. Also be aware of foods that are high in calcium. Foods like Almonds, Cabbage, Kale, Sardines, Navy Beans, Oranges, Broccoli, Cheese, Yogurt, Spinach and other leafy greens, seafood, legumes and fruits are good sources of calcium. You are always better off getting your calcium from foods than from supplements.
Lastly, do not rely solely on standard blood testing to be accurate. Your body is very good at maintaining optimal blood levels of calcium and therefore would make standard testing inaccurate. Instead you want to test WBC concentrations of calcium. I use an intra-cellular and extra-cellular micronutrient test to look for abnormalities in vitamin, mineral and fatty acids concentrations.
At Stanly Wellness Center, we are eager and ready to help you and your families achieve your best health possible. If you are looking for help with your health or you know of someone who is suffering with poor health, call the office of Stanly Wellness Center at 980-355-7600 and schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation with Dr. Patrick Ess to see how he can help. Dr. Ess will not waste your time or money. He will let you know if he can help you, and if he can’t, who in the community can.
Our office specializes in nutrition, detoxification and neurological correction. You can also refer to our website atwww.AskDrPatrick.com for more information. We accept most major health insurances including BCBS, Aetna, Humana, UHC, Medicaid and Medicare.
