The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Ho Viet Le Diem - General Internal Medicine Doctor - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.
Many people think that milk is an effective calcium supplement for the body, so drinking calcium with milk will double the absorption capacity. However, this information is incorrect.
1. Uses of calcium for the body
Calcium is essential for the formation of bones, teeth, muscles, etc. It is one of the essential minerals of the body. Children, the elderly, and pregnant women are special individuals that need to be supplemented with calcium regularly. If there is a lack of calcium, it can lead to rickets, weak bones, osteoporosis, tooth mineralization, muscle aches, back pain, ossification disorders, etc.
Calcium can be supplemented by eating foods containing calcium or taking calcium supplements in liquid or tablet form. Some of the foods that contain a lot of calcium are milk and dairy products.
Calcium in milk is very easy to absorb, this is a delicious food, rich in nutrients, convenient to use, so it is loved by many people. Many people drink milk every day to supplement calcium, others combine drinking milk with calcium tablets to increase absorption efficiency.
2. Should you drink calcium with milk?
Nutrition experts recommend not drinking calcium with milk.
The reason is that the amount of calcium in milk and calcium in calcium tablets compete during the absorption process, reducing the body's calcium absorption efficiency.
Calcium should be taken about 1 hour after breakfast and far from the time of drinking milk. To give the body time to absorb the maximum amount of calcium in milk and calcium tablets, you should take these two types 2 hours apart.
3. What foods should you avoid when taking calcium?
In addition to milk, many foods can hinder the body's calcium absorption process when taking calcium that you need to pay attention to, such as:
- Foods rich in protein: Eating too much protein in one meal can reduce the amount of calcium absorbed into the body.
- Eat too salty: Eating salty foods can increase calcium excretion through urine.
- Green tea: Tannins in green tea can inhibit and hinder the calcium absorption process. Therefore, you should not drink green tea and calcium at the same time or too close together.
- Foods high in iron or iron supplements: Calcium can reduce the body's ability to absorb iron.
4. Things to note when taking calcium
- Do not take calcium on an empty stomach because it can affect the stomach.
- Do not take calcium in the evening, it can increase the risk of calcium accumulation and creating stones in the urinary tract.
- Do not take a too high dose of calcium, the amount of calcium that can be excreted can increase pressure on the kidneys.
- Do not supplement calcium without consulting a doctor.
- You should supplement vitamin D or sunbathe when taking calcium to increase absorption.
- Learn carefully about the ingredients and origin of the calcium you use.
Supplementing calcium by taking calcium is a way to help strengthen muscles and joints. However, when taking calcium, you should note not to combine it with certain foods that can reduce the ability to absorb calcium. In addition, you also need to supplement calcium at the right time.
Please follow the website: Vinmec.com regularly to update many other useful information.
To arrange an appointment, please call HOTLINE or make your reservation directly HERE. You may also download the MyVinmec app to schedule appointments faster and manage your reservations more conveniently.
