The first problem with this chapter is the title. Calcium – no doubt an important/essential mineral – is far from a “miracle mineral.” While calcium plays a key role in a wide range of biological functions and is contained in many healthy foods, there is hardly anything amazing or that elicits wonder about calcium. Calcium is no more miraculous than any other essential mineral, and no more a miracle than is air, blood, water or anything else that is vital to our survival.
At the close of this chapter that touts the many purported benefits of calcium Dr. Klauer writes:
There are so many benefits from calcium that it really is a miracle mineral. Calcium lowers blood pressure and the risk for cardio vascular disease, lowers the risk for colon cancer, maintains our skeletal mass and keeps us slim…if you want to lose weight and keep it off, add more low-fat diary products to your diet. Weight loss will be easier, you will lose weight from unhealthy abdominal stores and your total health will improve.
In this chapter Dr. Klauer presents information that supports the claims she makes in the conclusion. Let’s look at her position, point by point. Since the calcium and weight loss link is the most interesting piece of this claim, that’s first on the agenda.
Calcium and Weight Loss. This is a most interesting story. Do you know that there is a patent on the claim that calcium and dairy products can treat and/or prevent obesity? The “father” of the calcium and weight loss theory is Dr. Michael Zemel and he is listed as the inventor on the patent that is held by the University of Tennessee, where the research was done. Dr. Zemel himself has written a book, The Calcium Key, which is supposed to be the latest in a never-ending stream of revolutionary, quick weight loss miracle diets.
How many hundreds or thousands of people do you think Dr. Zemel studied in the attempt to prove the calcium/weight loss link in order to be able to patent the claim of calcium’s efficacy? Would you think 4600 people or 46 people? If you said 46 people you would be correct. The published results of the studies of this “link” involved only 46 total participants.
Article comments
1 - Dick Hanneman
Your description of the role of salt reduction on the effectiveness of the DASH Diet is just plain wrong. Correcting mineral deficiencies in DASH -- while holding sodium (salt) constant -- made the difference; reducing salt added nothing in six of the eight subgroups: if you are an older, overweight African-American, salt restriction added some BP benefit (but not necessarily a reduced rate of heart attacks). Consider two facts: With sodium constant at near-normal levels, those with high blood pressure who followed the DASH Diet cut their systolic blood pressure (the important "top number") by 11.4 mmHg. By also cutting salt by 60% (never achieved in a free-living population), the hypertensive subgroup reduced SBP by 11.5 mmHg. So, 11.4 mmHg was the "DASH effect" and 0.1 mmHg was the "salt effect." 'Nuff said.
For more see the Salt Institute's Salt and Health website: http://www.saltinstitute.org/28.html.
Dick Hanneman
President
Salt Institute
2 - sal m
Mr Hanneman:
Perhaps you need to reread what I wrote and the DASH introduction.
Here is what the DASH intro says,
"Recently, two studies showed that blood pressure can be lowered by following a particular eating plan...and reducing the amount of sodium consumed...the combination of the eating plan and a reduced sodium intake gives the biggest benefit and may help prevent the development of high blood pressure."
If you object to the findings of DASH don't waste your time here. Whether or not your industry agrees with the findings matters not one bit to me, but if you disagree go bother the people who did the DASH study.
I used DASH because the author of this book intimates that somehow this study found that calcium had a direct role in lowering blood pressure, not because I am promoting DASH in particular or a low sodium diet.
3 - Angela Groninger
Maybe some of the information contained in Dr. Klauer book can be found online for free, but as a person who has gained and lost probably hundreds of pounds, I find her program and tips quite encouraging. Yes, some of it is condesending, but no doubt, as a women who likes to eat, I've found a loss in my normal cravings and do feel satisfied with her diet. The elimination of "white" foods and lowering empty carbs is awesome. Sure this diet caters to people who can eat less and eat well, so may not be for everyone. It works for me. I feel great and am losing weight. I've tried Weight Watchers and actually GAINED weight...go figure.
4 - Melaine Hruska
I myself am a scientist and have found some issues with the books claims. But there is a message in the book that I do not feel is unhealthy or dangerous! The book is a great motivational tool. I have used it in my weight loss goals and found myself to have more energy than ever, many of my health issues, such as skin and general allergies, subsided. Now, way is this? Because I took the message of eating smaller portions, eating food that American’s have cut completely out of our diet, deceasing things in our diets that are harmful such has high amounts of fats and breads, and drinking the daily amount of water, not soda, sports drinks or even infused fruit waters. Also, getting up and exercising! None of it I find harmful, unless you take it to the extreme! That is true for any diet and why you should consult a doctor before starting a diet/exercise plan.
As for “Starving” on this plan, from my experience I was more filled than I had ever been and for longer! My cravings for fast food and quick fix caffeine drinks diminished over time and I felt great. When ever I did try to start a “FAD” diet that’s when I starved, still not seeing result and consuming twice as many calories! But this is a personal experience! I did ease back into eating small amount of wheat enriched foods but never to the excess that I did! This book offers motivation, encouragement, and a starting point. A starting point to reevaluate what we put in our body’s as American’s and individuals.