Calcium supplement vs. Fat Free Milk

Ignoramus14193 said:

My doc recommended that I take a calcium supplement. I am 32 and I take thyroid hormone supplement.
After reading some articles on how calcium supplements are not that great, I am thinking that
perhaps replacing calcium supplement with 3 glasses of FF milk would work better.

Any thoughts on whether it is a better idea than just popping a calcium pill.

Three questions:

1) What is the reason you are supplementing with thyroid?

2) What thyroid supplement brand are you using?

3) What is the reason to supplement with Calcium?

Is your doctor a specialist in nutrition? If not, get a referral to a specialist. I don't know about
calcium but supplements are less effective than food for getting anti-oxidants and fiber.

Ignoramus14193 said:

My doc recommended that I take a calcium supplement. I am 32 and I take thyroid hormone
supplement. After reading some articles on how calcium supplements are not that great, I am
thinking that perhaps replacing calcium supplement with 3 glasses of FF milk would work better.

Any thoughts on whether it is a better idea than just popping a calcium pill.

i

In article said:

On 23 Jan 2004 14:23:26 GMT, Ignoramus14193

Quoted message said:

My doc recommended that I take a calcium supplement. I am 32 and I take thyroid hormone
supplement. After reading some articles on how calcium supplements are not that great, I am
thinking that perhaps replacing calcium supplement with 3 glasses of FF milk would work better.

Any thoughts on whether it is a better idea than just popping a calcium pill.

Three questions:

1) What is the reason you are supplementing with thyroid?

I had thyroidectomy 11 years ago, 2/3 of thyroid removed. Supplemntation is need to augment and
suppress the remaining thyroid.

Quoted message said:

2) What thyroid supplement brand are you using?

Russian Thyroxine, so far, which works somehow better for me than Synthroid. Thyroxine is made from
cow thyroids.

Quoted message said:

3) What is the reason to supplement with Calcium?

The doc just told me so. I guess his suggestion is based on my thyroid issues, and being over 30.

i

In article said:

Is your doctor a specialist in nutrition? If not, get a referral to a specialist. I don't know
about calcium but supplements are less effective than food for getting anti-oxidants and fiber.

My doctor is not a specialist in nutrition. He also did not tell me not to eat calcium with my
thyroid pills.

That's why I am asking these newsgroups if anyone has any reasoned opinion on the matter. For the
record, I agree with you that getting nutrients from food is better.

i

Quoted message said:

Ignoramus14193 said:

My doc recommended that I take a calcium supplement. I am 32 and I take thyroid hormone
supplement. After reading some articles on how calcium supplements are not that great, I am
thinking that perhaps replacing calcium supplement with 3 glasses of FF milk would work better.

Any thoughts on whether it is a better idea than just popping a calcium pill.

i

Ignoramus14193 said:

Quoted message said:

2) What thyroid supplement brand are you using?

Russian Thyroxine, so far, which works somehow better for me than Synthroid. Thyroxine is made from
cow thyroids.

Good. Synthroid seems to be the least good among the alternatives.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

3) What is the reason to supplement with Calcium?

The doc just told me so. I guess his suggestion is based on my thyroid issues, and being over 30.

Well, I wouldn't take anything without knowing "why" first.

"Ignoramus14193" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Capitalist Pig

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On 23 Jan 2004 14:23:26 GMT, Ignoramus14193

Quoted message said:

My doc recommended that I take a calcium supplement. I am 32 and I take thyroid hormone
supplement. After reading some articles on how calcium supplements are not that great, I am
thinking that perhaps replacing calcium supplement with 3 glasses of FF milk would work better.

Any thoughts on whether it is a better idea than just popping a calcium pill.

Three questions:

1) What is the reason you are supplementing with thyroid?

I had thyroidectomy 11 years ago, 2/3 of thyroid removed. Supplemntation is need to augment and
suppress the remaining thyroid.

Quoted message said:

2) What thyroid supplement brand are you using?

Russian Thyroxine, so far, which works somehow better for me than Synthroid. Thyroxine is made
from cow thyroids.

Quoted message said:

3) What is the reason to supplement with Calcium?

The doc just told me so. I guess his suggestion is based on my thyroid issues, and being over 30.

i

nof.orgrisk.htmOpen ↗

Here's a site that mentions thyroid medication and it's effect on bone density. Don't know if this
pertains to you....

Beverly

In article said:

"Ignoramus14193" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Capitalist Pig

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On 23 Jan 2004 14:23:26 GMT, Ignoramus14193
<[email hidden]> wrote:
>
>My doc recommended that I take a calcium supplement. I am 32 and I take thyroid hormone
>supplement. After reading some articles on how calcium supplements are not that great, I am
>thinking that perhaps replacing calcium supplement with 3 glasses of FF milk would work better.
>
>Any thoughts on whether it is a better idea than just popping a calcium pill.
>

Three questions:

1) What is the reason you are supplementing with thyroid?

I had thyroidectomy 11 years ago, 2/3 of thyroid removed. Supplemntation is need to augment and
suppress the remaining thyroid.

Quoted message said:

2) What thyroid supplement brand are you using?

Russian Thyroxine, so far, which works somehow better for me than Synthroid. Thyroxine is made
from cow thyroids.

Quoted message said:

3) What is the reason to supplement with Calcium?

The doc just told me so. I guess his suggestion is based on my thyroid issues, and being over 30.

i

nof.orgrisk.htmOpen ↗

Here's a site that mentions thyroid medication and it's effect on bone density. Don't know if this
pertains to you....

Yes, it pertains to me. Exactly so.

i

In article said:

On 23 Jan 2004 16:34:47 GMT, Ignoramus14193

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2) What thyroid supplement brand are you using?

Russian Thyroxine, so far, which works somehow better for me than Synthroid. Thyroxine is made
from cow thyroids.

Good. Synthroid seems to be the least good among the alternatives.

Any better alternatives available in the USA? I am running out of my Russian stuff. Synthroid feels
as though I am not taking anything.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

3) What is the reason to supplement with Calcium?

The doc just told me so. I guess his suggestion is based on my thyroid issues, and being over 30.

Well, I wouldn't take anything without knowing "why" first.

Agree.

i

Ignoramus14193 said:

Any better alternatives available in the USA? I am running out of my Russian stuff. Synthroid feels
as though I am not taking anything.

Armour Thyroid seems to be the alternative of choice.

armourthyroid.comarmourthyroid.comOpen ↗

In article said:

On 23 Jan 2004 18:00:33 GMT, Ignoramus14193

Quoted message said:

Any better alternatives available in the USA? I am running out of my Russian stuff. Synthroid
feels as though I am not taking anything.

Armour Thyroid seems to be the alternative of choice.

armourthyroid.comarmourthyroid.comOpen ↗

Thanks. I also heard about Armour and asked my doc to prescribe it for me when I run out of the
Russian stuff. He agreed. Will peruse that site.

Do you have any evidence, even anecdotal, that armour works better?

i

"Ignoramus14193" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

"Ignoramus14193" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Capitalist Pig

Quoted message said:

> On 23 Jan 2004 14:23:26 GMT, Ignoramus14193
> <[email hidden]> wrote:
>>
>>My doc recommended that I take a calcium supplement. I am 32 and I take thyroid hormone
>>supplement. After reading some articles on how calcium supplements are not that great, I am
>>thinking that perhaps replacing calcium supplement with 3 glasses of FF milk would work
>>better.
>>
>>Any thoughts on whether it is a better idea than just popping a calcium pill.
>>
>
> Three questions:
>
> 1) What is the reason you are supplementing with thyroid?

I had thyroidectomy 11 years ago, 2/3 of thyroid removed. Supplemntation is need to augment and
suppress the remaining thyroid.

> 2) What thyroid supplement brand are you using?

Russian Thyroxine, so far, which works somehow better for me than Synthroid. Thyroxine is made
from cow thyroids.

> 3) What is the reason to supplement with Calcium?

The doc just told me so. I guess his suggestion is based on my thyroid issues, and being
over 30.

i

nof.orgrisk.htmOpen ↗

Here's a site that mentions thyroid medication and it's effect on bone density. Don't know if
this pertains to you....

Yes, it pertains to me. Exactly so.

i

I agree that taking vitamins and other supplements aren't always necessary when we eat a healthy
diet. Unfortunately it's possible to get the daily recommended allowance for calcium and still lose
bone density due to other reasons such as your medication. When I was diagnosed with osteopenia a
few years ago I was rather shocked. I had always followed a healthy diet, drank milk, exercised,
etc. I guess it was some of the other factors mentioned in the article that did it for me - weighed
less than 130 until I hit my mid 40's, early menopause, took thyroid medication for a couple years
around age 30 and smoked until a few years ago. Unless you can determine how much the thyroid
medication is affecting your bone density it might not be a bad idea to take a supplement.

Beverly

Ignoramus14193 said:

In article said:

"Ignoramus14193" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Capitalist Pig

Quoted message said:

>On 23 Jan 2004 14:23:26 GMT, Ignoramus14193 <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
>>My doc recommended that I take a calcium supplement. I am 32 and I take thyroid hormone
>>supplement. After reading some articles on how calcium supplements are not that great, I am
>>thinking that perhaps replacing calcium supplement with 3 glasses of FF milk would work better.
>>
>>Any thoughts on whether it is a better idea than just popping a calcium pill.
>>
>
>Three questions:
>
>1) What is the reason you are supplementing with thyroid?

I had thyroidectomy 11 years ago, 2/3 of thyroid removed. Supplemntation is need to augment and
suppress the remaining thyroid.

>2) What thyroid supplement brand are you using?

Russian Thyroxine, so far, which works somehow better for me than Synthroid. Thyroxine is made
from cow thyroids.

>3) What is the reason to supplement with Calcium?

The doc just told me so. I guess his suggestion is based on my thyroid issues, and being over 30.

i

nof.orgrisk.htmOpen ↗

Here's a site that mentions thyroid medication and it's effect on bone density. Don't know if this
pertains to you....

Yes, it pertains to me. Exactly so.

How so? Are you taking *excessive* thyroid hormones?

Quoted message said:

i

In article said:

"Ignoramus14193" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

"Ignoramus14193" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> In article <[email hidden]>, Capitalist Pig
wrote:
> > On 23 Jan 2004 14:23:26 GMT, Ignoramus14193
> > <[email hidden]> wrote:
> >>
> >>My doc recommended that I take a calcium supplement. I am 32 and I take thyroid hormone
> >>supplement. After reading some articles on how calcium supplements are not that great, I am
> >>thinking that perhaps replacing calcium supplement with 3 glasses of FF milk would work
> >>better.
> >>
> >>Any thoughts on whether it is a better idea than just popping a calcium pill.
> >>
> >
> > Three questions:
> >
> > 1) What is the reason you are supplementing with thyroid?
>
> I had thyroidectomy 11 years ago, 2/3 of thyroid removed. Supplemntation is need to augment
> and suppress the remaining thyroid.
>
> > 2) What thyroid supplement brand are you using?
>
> Russian Thyroxine, so far, which works somehow better for me than Synthroid. Thyroxine is made
> from cow thyroids.
>
> > 3) What is the reason to supplement with Calcium?
>
> The doc just told me so. I guess his suggestion is based on my thyroid issues, and being
> over 30.
>
> i

nof.orgrisk.htmOpen ↗

Here's a site that mentions thyroid medication and it's effect on bone density. Don't know if
this pertains to you....

Yes, it pertains to me. Exactly so.

i

I agree that taking vitamins and other supplements aren't always necessary when we eat a healthy
diet. Unfortunately it's possible to get the daily recommended allowance for calcium and still
lose bone density due to other reasons such as your medication. When I was diagnosed with
osteopenia a few years ago I was rather shocked. I had always followed a healthy diet, drank milk,
exercised, etc. I guess it was some of the other factors mentioned in the article that did it for
me - weighed less than 130 until I hit my mid 40's, early menopause, took thyroid medication for a
couple years around age 30 and smoked until a few years ago. Unless you can determine how much the
thyroid medication is affecting your bone density it might not be a bad idea to take a supplement.

Beverly

Are you saying that a supplement would work even when milk does not work? I find it not very
believable.

i

In article said:

Ignoramus14193 said:

In article said:

"Ignoramus14193" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

>In article <[email hidden]>, Capitalist Pig

wrote:

>>On 23 Jan 2004 14:23:26 GMT, Ignoramus14193 <[email hidden]> wrote:
>>
>>>My doc recommended that I take a calcium supplement. I am 32 and I take thyroid hormone
>>>supplement. After reading some articles on how calcium supplements are not that great, I am
>>>thinking that perhaps replacing calcium supplement with 3 glasses of FF milk would work
>>>better.
>>>
>>>Any thoughts on whether it is a better idea than just popping a calcium pill.
>>>
>>
>>Three questions:
>>
>>1) What is the reason you are supplementing with thyroid?
>
>I had thyroidectomy 11 years ago, 2/3 of thyroid removed. Supplemntation is need to augment and
>suppress the remaining thyroid.
>
>
>>2) What thyroid supplement brand are you using?
>
>Russian Thyroxine, so far, which works somehow better for me than Synthroid. Thyroxine is made
>from cow thyroids.
>
>
>>3) What is the reason to supplement with Calcium?
>
>The doc just told me so. I guess his suggestion is based on my thyroid issues, and being
>over 30.
>
>i

nof.orgrisk.htmOpen ↗

Here's a site that mentions thyroid medication and it's effect on bone density. Don't know if
this pertains to you....

Yes, it pertains to me. Exactly so.

How so? Are you taking *excessive* thyroid hormones?

Yes, because the function of the remaining thyroid needs to be suppressed. The point is not to take
too much and not too little.

i

"Ignoramus14193" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

"Ignoramus14193" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Beverly wrote:
>
> "Ignoramus14193" <[email hidden]> wrote in

message

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> "]news:[email hidden]...
>> In article <[email hidden]>, Capitalist

Pig

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> wrote:
>> > On 23 Jan 2004 14:23:26 GMT, Ignoramus14193
>> > <[email hidden]> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>My doc recommended that I take a calcium supplement. I am 32 and I take thyroid hormone
>> >>supplement. After reading some articles on

how

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> >>calcium supplements are not that great, I am thinking that perhaps replacing calcium
>> >>supplement with 3 glasses of FF milk would work better.
>> >>
>> >>Any thoughts on whether it is a better idea than just popping a calcium pill.
>> >>
>> >
>> > Three questions:
>> >
>> > 1) What is the reason you are supplementing with thyroid?
>>
>> I had thyroidectomy 11 years ago, 2/3 of thyroid removed. Supplemntation is need to augment
>> and suppress the

remaining

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> thyroid.
>>
>> > 2) What thyroid supplement brand are you using?
>>
>> Russian Thyroxine, so far, which works somehow better for me than Synthroid. Thyroxine is
>> made from cow thyroids.
>>
>> > 3) What is the reason to supplement with Calcium?
>>
>> The doc just told me so. I guess his suggestion is based on my

thyroid

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> issues, and being over 30.
>>
>> i
>
> nof.orgrisk.htmOpen ↗
>
> Here's a site that mentions thyroid medication and it's effect on

bone

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> density. Don't know if this pertains to you....

Yes, it pertains to me. Exactly so.

i

I agree that taking vitamins and other supplements aren't always

necessary

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

when we eat a healthy diet. Unfortunately it's possible to get the

daily

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

recommended allowance for calcium and still lose bone density due to

other

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

reasons such as your medication. When I was diagnosed with osteopenia a

few

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

years ago I was rather shocked. I had always followed a healthy diet,

drank

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

milk, exercised, etc. I guess it was some of the other factors

mentioned in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the article that did it for me - weighed less than 130 until I hit my

mid

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

40's, early menopause, took thyroid medication for a couple years around

age

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

30 and smoked until a few years ago. Unless you can determine how much

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

thyroid medication is affecting your bone density it might not be a bad

idea

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to take a supplement.

Beverly

Are you saying that a supplement would work even when milk does not work? I find it not very
believable.

i

Getting natural calcium is much better than the supplement but are you going to make sure you get
the recommended daily amount and any additional your medication may require? I don't know what
effect the medication has on calcium - does it prevent proper absorption, etc?

Ignoramus14193 said:

In article said:

Ignoramus14193 said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Beverly wrote:

>"Ignoramus14193" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>"]news:[email hidden]...
>
>>
>>The doc just told me so. I guess his suggestion is based on my thyroid issues, and being
>>over 30.
>>
>>i
>
>nof.orgrisk.htmOpen ↗
>
>Here's a site that mentions thyroid medication and it's effect on bone density. Don't know if
>this pertains to you....

Yes, it pertains to me. Exactly so.

How so? Are you taking *excessive* thyroid hormones?

Yes, because the function of the remaining thyroid needs to be suppressed.

You don't need excessive hormones for that; you only need enough to suppress TSH.

Quoted message said:

The point is not to take too much and not too little.

Umm, right. It's only excessive if it's too much. That's what "excessive" means.

Quoted message said:

i

The fat free milk is far superior to a supplement in terms of calcium's bioavailability to the body
from the milk vs the supplement. Also, some recent research (search PubMed) suggests that low fat
and nonfat dairy products help with weight loss. If you do take a calcium supplement make sure it
has Vitamin D in it (milk is fortified with it).

"Ignoramus14193" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My doc recommended that I take a calcium supplement. I am 32 and I take thyroid hormone
supplement. After reading some articles on how calcium supplements are not that great, I am
thinking that perhaps replacing calcium supplement with 3 glasses of FF milk would work better.

Any thoughts on whether it is a better idea than just popping a calcium pill.

i

In article 4dhQb.107097$sv6.518628@attbi_s52 said:

The fat free milk is far superior to a supplement in terms of calcium's bioavailability to the
body from the milk vs the supplement. Also, some recent research (search PubMed) suggests that low
fat and nonfat dairy products help with weight loss. If you do take a calcium supplement make sure
it has Vitamin D in it (milk is fortified with it).

Thanks for your straight answer.

i

Once upon a time, our fellow Ignoramus14193 rambled on about "Re: Calcium supplement vs. Fat Free
Milk." Our champion De-Medicalizing in sci.med.nutrition retorts, thusly ...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

How so? Are you taking *excessive* thyroid hormones?

Yes, because the function of the remaining thyroid needs to be suppressed. The point is not to take
too much and not too little.

"... you have my sympathies" Science Officer Ash to Ripley, in the movie ALIEN.