The Supplement That’s HARMING Your Heart
Once you reach a certain age, your doctor will start warning you about bone loss and increased risk of osteoporosis.
Next, you’ll be advised to get a bone mineral density scan. Based on the results, you could be prescribed a drug to help boost bone strength.
But regardless of your results, you’ll no doubt be told that taking calcium and vitamin D supplements is a good backup plan for preserving your bone strength as you age.
Well, I’m here to tell you that this is terrible advice.
And if you follow it, your heart could be at risk.
Let me explain…
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your bones and is essential for a strong skeleton.
And vitamin D helps your bones absorb calcium.
So, taking calcium and vitamin D supplements to boost bone strength might seem like a no-brainer.
But it’s NOT so cut and dry.
Yes, these nutrients can boost bone strength. But that boost can come at a steep cost.
According to researchers, taking these supplements could INCREASE your risk of dying from heart disease.
A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine evaluated data from the largest randomized trial on calcium and vitamin D supplementation. It focused on the impact these supplements had on postmenopausal women.
The volunteers who took the pair of supplements had a SIX percent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
I believe this increased risk is from calcium, not vitamin D. And earlier research is supports my suspicion.
Other studies have found that taking calcium supplements could increase the risk of heart disease by as much as 30 percent, but I haven’t seen evidence of those connections with vitamin D.
The problem with calcium supplements is that they rapidly increase your circulating levels of the mineral, which can increase heart risks.
This new research highlights that while you DO need to boost your calcium levels, supplements are NOT the best way to do it.
Instead, get your calcium from natural food sources, such as dairy, leafy greens, oranges, seeds, and soybeans.
Also, to ensure your body absorbs the calcium you’re feeding it, get plenty of vitamin D from the sun.
P.S. To find out the stunning reasons why you might not be able to trust the results of your bone mineral density scan—and what I do differently with my own patients—stay tuned for the April issue of Natural Health Response. Not already a subscriber? There’s still time. Click on the red button below for details.
SOURCE:
“Long-Term Effect of Randomization to Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation on Health in Older Women: Postintervention Follow-up of a Randomized Clinical Trial,” Annals of Internal Medicine, 3.12.2024, doi. org/ 10.7326 /M23-2598
