Calcium as Fat Burner

by Georgianna Donadio, MSc, DC, PhD

Information from the Nutrition Institute of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, appears to confirm the "rumor" that calcium rich diets result in lower body fat.

According to a recent study in mice conducted at the University, a diet that includes low-fat dairy products and calcium supplementation can result in significant weight loss through the burning rather than the storing of fat in fat cells. This is explained as being the results of the role that stored calcium plays in the breakdown and burning of fat inside our body's cells.

Here is an excerpt from an article on the study, published on WedMD written by Jeanie Larche Davis:

"The researchers used mice bred to be obese in their current study. The mice were fed a special high-fat, high-sugar diet for six weeks. All had a 27% increase in body fat.

Some were then switched to a calorie-restricted diet. Of those, one group was given calcium supplements (calcium carbonate similar to Tums) and others were fed "medium" and "high" amounts of low-fat dry milk.

Body fat storage was markedly reduced by all three high-calcium diets, say the authors.
Those given calcium supplements had good results, when combined with the restricted-calorie diet.

Mice getting their calcium via supplements had a 42% decrease in body fat, whereas mice eating without supplements had an 8% body fat loss."

The reason this was of great interest to me and it felt important to share is because I have observed over the past 10 years, that during any period of time that I have consistently taken calcium supplementation, in the form of powdered calcium/magnesium, my body weight has definitely decreased.

Within a month or so of not taking the calcium/magnesium powder, the weight starts to creep back on. This article helps to answer the question of why. Thyroxine, secreted by the thyroid, is a critical hormone in intracellular metabolism. Thyroxine also has a significant impact on intracellular metabolism and on the utilization of calcium.

Having a calcium rich diet would allow the thyroxin that is necessary for cellular metabolism to be more effecient in utilizing the fat stored in our cells for energy!

This article has been very clarifying and explains WHY high calcium diets facilitate weight loss. Armed with that information we can enjoy eating our spinach, kale and sardines knowing they are working away to keep our body fat burning.

With all good wishes,
G
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