I've always wondered about that...
2007-02-13 05:23:58 · 13 answers · asked by Peoplemover 2 in Health ➔ Alternative Medicine
you can eat Tums as a source of Ca supplement. However; since it's calcium carbonate, and less soluble, has low absorption in body. and also, Ca absorption needs to be with another element: Mg.
That's the reason you always see two, together
Ca:Mg, ratio( 2:1). and the best form of Calcium is Calcium citrate.
2007-02-14 09:39:00 · answer #1 · answered by Goldista 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO! NO! NO! Tums is nothing more than ground up lime stone. Lime stone needs a high acidic environment to dissolve. Lime stone, in a powder like Tums, will "reform" back into a stone when subjected to water. Remember we are mostly salt water. These things will give you gall stones and possible kidney stones and make your life miserable. If you want calcium then take calcium citrate it does not have the adverse side effects of Tums.
2007-02-13 14:59:00 · answer #2 · answered by True Patriots! 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Not a good idea, IMO. Keeping stomach acid artificially low will harm your body over a period of time. For one, you cannot absorb your nutrients properly, especially minerals. And two, stomach acid helps kill off bacteria we ingest, like salmonella.
Tums are made of calcium CARBONATE which is not a good, absorbable source of calcium. You'd do better with a calcium CITRATE from the health food store, or at least Citrical if you prefer. Some of these are available in chewable wafers. Use 1 hour before or two hours after a meal, to avoid interferring with digestion.
2007-02-13 14:21:04 · answer #3 · answered by Janet S 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No!!! Tums is antacid and eating it just like that without reason is going to affect the acid balance in your stomach and will lead to digestion problems. Also the aluminium or magnesium or both (may be some other metal like calcium or sodium too) will put unnecessary strain on your kidneys.
2007-02-13 14:03:05 · answer #4 · answered by Swamy 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You can eat them as a source of calcium. Do not exceed 2500mg/day or else you risk malignant calcification. Another thing that can happen with large doses of calcium carbonate is that you can get the Milk alkali syndrome, where you pathologically make your blood way to alkaline and this can cause lead to kidney disease. So don't exceed the label warning.
2007-02-13 22:47:54 · answer #5 · answered by mr.answerman 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can. It's an easy way to get calcium. I remember there were news stories about how taking Tums could help relieve PMS too.
2007-02-13 13:38:56 · answer #6 · answered by Michael's M 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
If you wanna eat crushed stone.If needed however tums ex are great.Working right away and tasting O.K.
2007-02-13 13:27:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes for the calcium alone its a good idea ,, but eat a meal with or before and boom it goes into the bloodstream with the other nutriants and is more effective for womens boneloss the other way to maximize the effect of takeing calcium tablets is to eat a halh teaspoon of sugar with the tums ,,
2007-02-13 13:36:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
It wouldn't be harmful. Just don't exceed what is recommended. Actually I think there are people who take antacids regularly because they use it as a source of calcium supplements. Calcium just happens to be a natural acid neutralizer.
2007-02-13 13:33:12 · answer #9 · answered by ineeddonothing 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
They don't hurt a lot, but they don't help. They are not a good source of calcium, because they neutralize the acid needed to absorb the calcium.
2007-02-13 13:54:35 · answer #10 · answered by hasse_john 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋