Calcium supplements have been linked to increased heart attack risk.
A study published in the British Medical Journal via Natural Awakenings found thatcalcium supplements can increase your risk of a heart attack by as much as 31 percent. The new research looked at 11 studies on 11,921 individuals. It’s scary stuff for those at risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, both of which plague the U.S. But it’s also more proof that the best way to feed your body the nutrients it needs isn’t through supplementation, but through your diet. How can you feed your bones? Well you may be surprised at the foods with the highest percentages of calcium…
More and more people are rethinking the tried and true calcium supplementation after finding that it could increase heart attack risk significantly. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t still need to have calcium in your diet. It all comes back to a whole foods diet with foods loaded with calcium like figs (506 mg per serving), sesame seeds (88 mg), flaxseeds (255 mg), almonds (266 mg), and tofu (372 mg). You’ll notice that none of these food choices include dairy, a pleasant surprise. The official recommendation for Americans is 1,000 mg/day from ages 19 to 50 and 1,200 mg/day after that.
According to CBS News.
“I think it’s important for us to look at this study and rethink our practice,” said Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, director of women’s health and heart disease, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “We shouldn’t just recommend supplementation to all of our patients.”
Additionally, look to other components of protecting the bones like getting Vitamin D through 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine without sunscreen each day and Vitamin K from green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach.
Via Treehugger
