Why you shouldn't stop taking calcium
In all my years of practicing medicine, I've learned that if Big Pharma has a new drug coming out, inevitably there will be reported "scare" against any existing, cost-efficient, and especially natural treatment.
And that's what happened recently when the headlines were all abuzz with a reported link between calcium supplements and an increased risk of dementia in women.
The timing is impeccable, since Big Pharma is preparing to get its new osteoporosis drug approved by the FDA.
That's a mighty big coincidence.
But ladies, before you toss those calcium supplements in the trash and opt for a riskier option, let's first take a good look at the details of this cockamamie study.
To begin with, the study only reviewed a small number of patients without taking into account any other risk factors like diet or family history.
Furthermore, the research focused on older women who had already suffered some form of a stroke at some point in their lives. So if you've never experienced a stroke, then it's hard to see how this study would apply to you.
But even if you have suffered a stroke, the idea that calcium would cause dementia seems to be a bit of a stretch.
IF they developed dementia, it probably had NOTHING to do with calcium.
And even if it did, we don't know whether the calcium supplements were from a quality maker that you can trust -- or those cheap, chewable candies that are basically balls of sugar with trace amounts of calcium, at best.
Now, you don't have to toss your calcium in the garbage, but you might be taking more of it than you need. You see, calcium can't work on its own -- it needs magnesium and vitamins D and K to effectively do its job and keep your bones strong.
So, make sure you're taking calcium as part of an overall regimen with ALL of the nutrients you need.
A visit with a holistic doctor can help get you a plan and the proper doses of each vitamin and mineral needed.
If you're still not convinced -- and you're apt to believe whatever these wacky headlines are telling you -- then rest assured that nobody's touching the calcium sources in your diet. Even the study says that eating calcium-rich foods is OK and won't contribute to dementia.
In fact, your diet can be a very good source of calcium!
So go ahead and load up on the dozens of Paleo-friendly foods that are rich in calcium: fish, broccoli, leafy greens, and almonds, just to name a few.
And whatever you do, don't let Big Pharma scare you into one of their drugs that may not do any more for your bones than a good diet and the right supplement plan would!