Iron Absorption: A health expert, Dr. Priyanka Sehrawat, recently shared a very important caution on her Instagram account. It is regarding the concomitant consumption of iron and calcium supplements. She says these two, taken simultaneously, massively interfere with the efficacy of iron absorption.
How Calcium Impairs Iron Absorption
Dr. Sehrawat says that if one takes iron tablets with calcium tablets or at any time with milk, then the intestines will poorly absorb the iron. This is because calcium, according to her, competes with iron in absorption and leads to reduced efficiency in the body’s ability to use up the iron consumed. For example, if you take a 100 mg elemental iron tablet with a calcium tablet or with milk, only about 20 mg of that iron may be absorbed into your bloodstream.
According to Dr. Sehrawat, the best way this really absorbs into your body is by not taking calcium and iron at the same time. She encourages one to increase more vitamin C in their diet or supplementation strategy instead. She says vitamin C allows for better absorption of iron and increases it also. She has the patient eat foods or drink juices, such as orange juice or lemon water with their iron supplement for better absorption.
Separating Iron and Calcium Supplements for Optimal Absorption
The takeaway message from the advice given by Dr. Sehrawat is to take iron and calcium supplements separately. By doing so, one can ensure that optimum amounts of iron are absorbed by your system to execute numerous physiological activities ranging from oxygen transport and cellular energy generation.
Guidance by Dr. Sehrawat emphasizes knowing the supplement interactions in view of potentiation of absorption of various nutrients for optimum health. Provided these recommendations are followed, individuals would manage their intake of nutritional supplements much better for supporting well-being effectively.