For decades, women have been encouraged -and even bullied- by health and medical experts to supplement with calcium in order to combat a possible osteoporosis diagnosis in the future. But could this advice be wrong?

“It’s now coming to the forefront through research that osteoporosis – the exact condition calcium supplementation is meant to prevent – may actually be perpetuated by high doses of calcium,” writes Ann Louise Gittleman, “The First Lady of Nutrition.”

She prefaces this heretical statement by explaining:

“It’s not the case that you don’t need calcium. In fact, you do – but only in the proper ratio to other essential minerals.

Supplementation is troublesome because without balancing calcium with magnesium and phosphorus, calcium can end up in the blood vessels, kidneys, joints, and coronary arteries.

Calcium competes with magnesium in the body, so when you don’t give your body the 2:1 magnesium to calcium ratio it needs, the onset of serious health issues begins. These include an irregular, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, tissue calcification, the formation of stones, joint pain, depression, fatigue, and even sudden death.

Perhaps the most interesting consequence from an improper calcium ratio is compromised bone health. I bet that’s a surprise!”

Like Ann Louise, I, too, prefer that people get their nutrients through foods rather than isolated supplements. Some good calcium-rich foods include broccoli, spinach, kale, and chia seeds. Always try to choose organic produce whenever you can, of course.

If you’re experiencing weird symptoms, it may be from that calcium supplement you take religiously, and you may need to work on balancing out your mineral ratios. Contact me if you’d like to discuss it further.