5 calcium absorption inhibitors you should avoid!

If you want to follow a diet that is varied and balanced, be aware that a lot of foods are calcium absorption inhibitors. If you’re conscious of your calcium intake, take a look at the list below and see if you can make any changes to your diet. The following have other effects on the body – but today we’re concentrating on the calcium leaching that they are responsible for.

Here are some daily lifestyle choices that all deplete calcium from the bones…

1. Fizzy drinks

All types of fizzy drinks have been linked to calcium stripping. Full fat, diet, caffeine-free – it doesn’t matter how it is marketed, fizzy drinks are just not good for the body. This is because they are high in phosphoric acid that leaches calcium from the bones and also places a strain on the kidneys. There is a high amount of chemicals in these drinks that can lead to mineral loss and depletes the body of real nutrition. If the the drink is caffeinated, the effects are even worse; caffeine causes excess water loss in the body which can exasperate calcium loss since calcium and other minerals leave the body via excess urine output. Even caffeine-free sodas contain harmful properties to the kidneys such as chemicals and artificial sweeteners that lead to mineral loss.

2. Excess caffeine

Add caffeine to a drink and it makes you go to the toilet quicker and more regularly. This causes excess urine to leave the body. With these frequent trips to the toilet goes a lot of minerals including calcium. You lose 6 milligrams of calcium for every 100 milligrams of caffeine you take in. One cup of coffee (8 ounces) has 160 milligrams of caffeine. Some fizzy drinks have twice this amount.

3. Excess salt

Salt is another well-known calcium absorption inhibitor. Excess salt is also a no-no for preserving calcium. Salt is only one type of sodium, and table salt is not the best source to get your sodium from. Processed salt is highly refined and leaches calcium from the bones unlike true sodium found in plant-based foods or even ancient, unrefined sea salts (pink, black, etc.) that provide necessary nourishment to the cells. Sodium-rich foods include celery, greens like spinach, fortified almond or soy milk, hummus, cocoa, and even many fruits and vegetables.

4. Smoking

Surprise, surprise! Among the many other damaging things that cigarettes can do is cause calcium loss.

5. Not enough protein

While we know it can be easy to get protein-obsessed, we should keep in mind that bones are made up of 50 percent protein. So, regardless if we don’t need an excessive amount, we do need protein to maintain healthy bones. Protein preserves calcium in the body where it is stored and supplies the body with support. It’s also is easy to obtain enough protein without meat (or dairy, eggs, fish, or poultry if you choose).