According to Dr. Ray Peat, low dietary calcium intake can lead to inflammation and hormonal imbalances including low thyroid problems and oestrogen dominance — both of which I address in depth in my Hormone Restore™ course and in my book Healing Metabolism Book Series. You can learn how to build a calcium-rich pro-metabolic diet in my book How to Boost Metabolism with Food and my Metabolic Food Mastery™ course.
How Does A Calcium Deficiency Produce Inflammation?
A lack of calcium in your diet leads to disruption of the body's calcium metabolism and an increase in the production of a hormone called parathyroid hormone (PTH). An elevated PTH is connected to inflammatory processes, therefore getting enough calcium is very important for preventing inflammation-related diseases.
How Does Calcium Influence Hormones?
A lack of calcium in the daily diet influences the general hormonal balance in a negative way, meaning a lack of calcium promotes hormonal disturbances such as:
- Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function)
- Elevation of inflammatory mediators
- Oestrogen dominance
- Progesterone deficiency
How Much Calcium Do I Need Per Day?
Around 2,000 mg of calcium per day is very useful for preventing inflammatory problems and hormonal disturbances. Many people do not get the necessary amount of daily calcium. Avoiding milk and dairy products is contributing to low calcium intake in the general population. In order to get enough calcium daily, dairy products should be included in your diet. Calcium supplements in the form of calcium carbonate can also be used to make sure your daily calcium intake is adequate — for guidance on choosing the right supplements and doses, see my Bioenergetic Supplements™ course.
What Are Calcium Rich Foods?
In order to obtain enough calcium daily to prevent hormonal disturbances and inflammation, it is important that the daily diet contains calcium-rich foods. Milk and dairy products are well-known as great sources of calcium, but how much is necessary, and are there other foods besides dairy that are rich in calcium too? You can learn more about how to get enough calcium into your daily diet in my book How to Boost Metabolism with Food and my Metabolic Food Mastery™ course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get enough calcium without eating dairy?
In order to obtain enough calcium daily to prevent hormonal disturbances and inflammation, it is important that the daily diet contains calcium-rich foods!
