My mother came up with this one over the dinner table

[greyvulf]

"I just read somewhere that protein robs your body of calcuim."
How can that be when all the current studies clearly state that resistence training increases bone density?
Okay, she didn't just invent this on her own. Can anyone enlighten me?? [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]

[archive_Iron God]

I don't beleive that to be the case when your body builds muslce it needs calcium but it doesn't your rob bones of calcium to do so.

Still as women you should always take your calcium pills lifting or not.


IG

[retropump]

You have hit on a truly controversial topic. There is sooo much conflicting research on the effects of protein on calcium absorption and excretion that it's hard to know where to begin. Let's just say that if you're on a high protein diet, it would be PRUDENT to participate in regular resistence training, keep you coffee and sodium intake low, and take a calcium supplement well away from any high protein, high iron meal. Just to be safe.

[greyvulf]

I never would have guessed

[riptchick]

Interesting that you mention this. I was just recently at my doctors for my yearly employment exam. My doctor said he was worried about my protein consumption--that it robbed precious calcium from a woman's body. I argued that alot of my protein comes from nutrient dense foods (calcium included)plus weight training aids in strong bones. Nonetheless, he wants me to have a bone density test--and in the same breath he is telling me that he has never seen a woman blow so hard into that lung capacity test nor has he had a woman with such low bodyfat as a patient. Then he mentions the slightly evaluated creatine levels.....Finally,he tries to get me to consult with his overweight nutrition counselor.....who smokes. Stating and I quote, "There is nothing wrong with a good old american diet". I wish I could find a good doctor.

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[WarLobo]

Well, you all know that getting the proper minerals is key in any muscle building program. But lets remember that one must have the proper RATIO of minerals. Having to little of one will radically effect the other. One of the most important mineral combos is the Calcium/Magnesium/Potassium ratio.

Good Grief. Doctors are so lost sometimes....I think they are all just Mad Scientists sometimes.


And on that note, I see Retropump has made it to the boards [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

LAte

Lobo

[retropump]

Nice to see you too sheriff Lobo. What a sweet guy. Of course WarLobo is right. The hard thing is knowing just how much of each mineral you need, and how much you're absorbing from your diet and supplements. Any 'good' calcium supplement should also have magnesium in it. A ratio of around 4:1 calcium to magnesium is a nice round figure. You could, should get plenty of potassium from all those yummy fruits and veggies you eat but if not then this is another helpful supplement. The dietician in me has to point out that none of these supplements are helpful unless you're short of them. Since the topic was about calcium, I tried to limit my discussion to that. There's hundreds of other vitamins, minerals and antioxidants we could discuss the supplementation of, don't ya reckon WarLobo? Sounds like the start of a new thread or two. Anyway, there's no harm in letting the doc scan yer bones. Peace of mind for him, and "I told ya so" for you.

[Pamela]

RC:
Did you take the Bone Density Test?

I wish you would have; so you could of proved this wrong.

I would be interesting to know what it is!!

Thanks Pamela [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[This message was edited by Pamela on 12-12-2000 at 03:46 PM.]

[greyvulf]

This conflict is really causing a battle between brain cells. I guess that I didn't look hard enough into the stuff claiming increased bone mass in ( I think it 'postmenopausal' ) woman subsequent to introducing resistence training. My guess tho is that they didn't change anything about those women's diets, and that would mean that they were on a relatively low protein diet (probably less than 100g per day). Right?
So take another study showing decreased calcuim in the bodies of women on high (meaning more than 100g per day?) protein diets....that don't work out?

"But the risks of inadequate calcium intake go well beyond fragile bones. "Calcium is just as important for men as it is for women," says Robert P. Heaney, M.D., a leading calcium researcher at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Deficiency of this crucial mineral has been linked to high blood pressure, stroke, kidney stones and colon cancer among both sexes."

"Calcium is present in the chemically combined state in lime (calcium hydroxide), cement and mortar (as calcium hydroxide or a variety of silicates of calcium), teeth and bones (as a calcium hydroxyphosphate), and in many body fluids (as complex proteinaceous compounds) essential to muscle contraction, the transmission of nerve impulses, and the clotting of blood."


Okay, I'm lost on the "proteinaceous" part but suspect that this is the first place to look. What is it in the synthesis of protein that requires calcuim? Please.
[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]

[retropump]

It's probably not proteins as such but phosphorus that causes the problems. Many proteins are high in phosphorous. One of the theories is that phosphorous binds the calcium into an insoluble form that gets excreted instead of metabolized. Sodas are also high in phosphorous and may muck up your calcium balance. This is really a huge topic, with lots of conflicting research so recommendations are based on being safe. But remember too much calcium is not good either.