Nutrition

» mandyrufle - How to take calcium supplements and more.

Hi Samantha-

I decided to ask you these question b/c your bio says you are an avid reader of nutritional items. My main question is who do I go to? ~ I have been trying to find a "nutritionist" in my area but am having no luck, just found weight-loss type nutritionists. Anyway, I'll try to make this as brief as possible. I was diagnosed with Graves disease over two years ago. I am treating it with ATD's, trying to achieve remission. I also have a heart arrythmia. I was just recently diagnosed with Osteopenia in my left hip and femur. Now enters the problem. I have been reading about how supplements can help with the throid and heart, but neither condition is to the point of me feeling I need them. Now, enter the Osteo, and my GP says I need to be on calcium supplements right away. So, I'm faced with quite a problem. As you may or may not know calcium will effect my heart arrythmia. Supposedly I need to take Magnesium to counteract the effect of the calcium. According to my Graves Disease Book, I need Copper to properly absorb the Magnesium. The place where I get my milk does not fortify with Vitamin D, so in order to get the Calcium effects from the milk in addition to the supplements I have Vit. D.

Some things I've read (and not sure how true any of it is):

~All supplements are nothing but chemical and do nothing good for our bodies.

~We should use food only for these viamin and minerals

~Too much magnesium can be harmful for arrythmias

~Calcium (dairy) will reduce the effects of Viamin C (and flouride for that matter, my 4 y.o. has a precription for flouride but I don't give it to him b/c I've read milk counteracts that too).

~How much Vitamin D per 8 oz. glass of milk do you need for it to absorb?...How much is in other dairy products?...How much calcium are you suppose to have per day?

I'm so confused about this whole supplement thing I don't know who to ask that is sufficiently versed - any ideas?

Thanks for your help. Kathy

I will post my reply next.

-- posted by mandyrufle