Women on diets need more calcium than normal to avoid bone
loss, say Rutgers University researchers.
Studies showed a weight loss diet of 1.5 pounds a week for 6
weeks cuts absorption of calcium. In 57 postmenopausal
dieters it was discovered that those women who took 1,800 mg
of calcium a day absorbed 78 percent more calcium than those
who took only 1,000 mg a day. To prevent bone loss, women
dieting after menopause should get 1,700 mg of calcium a
day, the experts say.
For people on low-fat, high fiber diets calcium requirements
are also higher. Studies show that 19 percent less calcium
is absorbed. It is theorized that the healthier diet moves
food faster through the gastrointestinal tract.
While it is common knowledge that calcium is necessary for
bone-growth research shows that calcium also fights fat
absorption. Studies reveal that calcium blocks fat storage
in fat cells. A minimum of 1,000 mg. of calcium daily
improves total cholesterol and good HDL, but lowers bad LDL.
Despite the publicity of the importance of calcium for
healthy bones research shows that consumption has gone down
over the past 30 years.
Experts recommend 1,000 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin
D daily for people under 50, and 1,500 mg of calcium and 800
IU of vitamin D for those over 50. The safe upper limit for
calcium intake has been set at 2,500 mg a day. Experts think
going above that on a daily basis may invite kidney stone
formation.
Once started, never stop taking calcium/vitamin D
supplements daily. USDA researchers found that after a 3-
year study over one-third of participants stopped taking the
supplements. Within one year women lost all bone-density
gains and men lost their gains in two years.
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For those who are lactose intolerant calcium and vitamin D
supplementation is even more important because it will be
difficult to get the daily requirement through diet alone.
For those allergic to cow's milk. Drink enough soy milk to
give you 500 mg of calcium per glass as compared to 300 mg
in cows milk. Studies at Creighton University in Omaha,
NE, showed that 25 percent less calcium is absorbed from soy
milk as cows milk.
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