Why taking calcium supplements shouldn't be the norm

Learning the harmful effects of calcium supplements

- CHESHIRE QUE, RND, RN, RD

Calcium intake from food sources is beneficial to health.

This mineral goes beyond supporting bone and dental health. It is involved in many processes in the body, including muscle contraction, nerve function, and blood clotting, in addition to regulating heart rhythm. Though taking bolus or large amounts of calcium that are isolated molecules and chemically derived, such as in the form of supplements, is more harmful than beneficial to one’s health. Most especially, to your cardiovascular health.

How can calcium supplements be damaging to the cardiovascular system? The heart pumps blood through a network of blood vessels, or arteries and veins, throughout the body. The arteries can get clogged with plaque. Calcium deposits are part and parcel of these heart-clogging plaques in combination with fats, cholesterol, fibrin (a fibrous protein found in blood clots to stop bleeding in wounds), and other waste products. When arteries are clogged, they become stiff, and blood pressure becomes abnormally elevated. This results in organ damage like the heart, eyes, kidneys, and more.