Dear Sir:
It is disturbing how various media take off with only half information before publishing it, and thus contribute to a lot of confusion regarding what people should, or should not do to gain and maintain health.
The first was a warning that people were supplementing with too much calcium – this without taking into consideration which form of calcium had been used for the testing.
There are several forms of calcium of which only a few are easily digestible. Calcium should always be balanced with magnesium and vitamin A, as these 3 elements work together to enhance each other's absorption and utilization ability in the body.
If calcium is taken by itself it will result in magnesium deficiency, a deficiency which has been implicated in osteoporosis and heart disease.
Calcium taken alone causes it to be laid down in several unwanted places including your kidneys and arteries. Magnesium is the most important mineral for all heart conditions.
I have even seen recommendations to use ant-acid as a calcium supplement. However these contain aluminum, a toxic mineral which interfere with calcium absorption.
The other disturbing news item was regarding too much salt (sodium) in the diet without any recommendations, except cutting the use of it down.
But the fact is that there has to be a balance between sodium and potassium. People who get too much salt are eating too much junk food which is loaded with salt and rarely contain any greens or fruits which are the main contributors of potassium; therefore the two minerals are out of balance.
This can cause a number of problems including angina, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure and osteoporosis. Just look to nature – why are the cows seeking salt licks after having been on grass pasture for a while. Their instincts tells them they have to balance their high intake of potassium with the salt.
Another bad suggestion is that people are constantly told to cut fat out of their diet, without mention of which kind of fat is referred to.
It is not fat in form of the right kinds of oils, for example, which makes people fat. It is sugar, which is converted to the worst kind of fat in your system.
To take one example – you cannot absorb the calcium from yogurt or other dairy products if it is fat free and loaded with sugar.
Sugar is one of the biggest problems in the diet today, disguised under many different names and artificial sweeteners which has been proven not to save calories but are addictive and can cause all kinds of health problems.
Grethe Brorup,
Terrace, BC