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Harvard Says Calcium Supplements are Safe for Heart Health

Feb 26, 2013 ● By Lynn Bednar

Despite recent news reports questioning the safety of calcium supplements, there is actually evidence to the contrary. According to data published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a study at Harvard of 1,200 men and women that used state-of-the-art CT, showed that calcium supplements do not increase the risk of arterial hardening.

There are other important considerations when considering a calcium supplement. Is calcium properly balanced with magnesium? Calcium should generally never be supplemented without supplementation by magnesium. These two important macro minerals work in concert for many functions in the body, including the contraction and relaxation of muscles, the firing and release of nerves and bone health.

When taking calcium for bone health, these co-nutrients are just as important as the calcium itself—vitamin K2, vitamin D, other nutrients that address inflammation and minerals like strontium, vanadium and boron.

Make sure to take a form of calcium that is well absorbed by the body. Calcium citrate, hydroxyapatite and plant-sourced calcium are all considerably better choices than calcium carbonate.


Lynn Bednar is a certified nutritional counselor and the owner of Walsh Natural Health, a health food and products store, in Evanston. Contact her at 847-864-1600 or WalshNatural.com.