Miami Herald Logo

On when to eat fruit or take a calcium pill | Miami Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Site Information
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Herald Store
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    • Sections
    • News
    • South Florida
    • Miami-Dade
    • Broward
    • Florida Keys
    • Florida
    • Politics
    • Weird News
    • Weather
    • National & World
    • Colombia
    • National
    • World
    • Americas
    • Cuba
    • Guantánamo
    • Haiti
    • Venezuela
    • Local Issues
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • In Depth
    • Issues & Ideas
    • Traffic
    • Sections
    • Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Pro & College
    • Miami Dolphins
    • Miami Heat
    • Miami Marlins
    • Florida Panthers
    • College Sports
    • University of Miami
    • Florida International
    • University of Florida
    • Florida State University
    • More Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Fighting
    • Golf
    • Horse Racing
    • Outdoors
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Youth Sports
    • Other Sports
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The Florida Influencer Series
    • Sections
    • Business
    • Business Monday
    • Banking
    • International Business
    • National Business
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate News
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Tourism & Cruises
    • Workplace
    • Business Plan Challenge
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Cindy Krischer Goodman
    • The Starting Gate
    • Work/Life Balancing Act
    • Movers
    • Sections
    • Living
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Pets
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Wine
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Dave Barry
    • Ana Veciana-Suarez
    • Flashback Miami
    • More Living
    • LGBTQ South Florida
    • Palette Magazine
    • Indulge Magazine
    • South Florida Album
    • Broward Album
    • Sections
    • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music & Nightlife
    • People
    • Performing Arts
    • Restaurants
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Jose Lambiet
    • Lesley Abravanel
    • More Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Miami.com
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Sections
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Ed
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Jim Morin
    • Letters to the Editor
    • From Our Inbox
    • Speak Up
    • Submit a Letter
    • Meet the Editorial Board
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Blog Directory
    • Columnist Directory
    • Andres Oppenheimer
    • Carl Hiaasen
    • Leonard Pitts Jr.
    • Fabiola Santiago
    • Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Place an Obituary

    • Place an ad
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Apartments
    • Auctions/Sales
    • Automotive
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Employment
    • Garage Sales
    • Legals
    • Merchandise
    • Obituaries
    • Pets
    • Public Notices
    • Real Estate
    • Services
  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Real Estate
  • Mobile & Apps

  • el Nuevo Herald
  • Miami.com
  • Indulge

Chew on This

On when to eat fruit or take a calcium pill

By Sheah Rarback srarback@hotmail.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

March 31, 2014 05:59 PM

When Shakespeare wrote “timing is everything,” I don’t think he was concerned about whether to take a calcium supplement after drinking coffee, whether he had to eat fruit alone or when to brush his teeth.

A reader posed these questions and I learned some new facts after my research.

A Google search reveals many articles stating that caffeine inhibits calcium absorption. But medical experts take a different view. Consider the view of Dr. Robert Heaney, a professor at Creighton University’s medical school. Writing in the journal, Food and Chemical Toxicology 2002, he stated: “There is no evidence that caffeine has any harmful effect on bone status or on the calcium economy in individuals who ingest the currently recommended daily allowances of calcium.”

Knowing the form of your calcium supplement is most important. Calcium carbonate needs to be taken with food; calcium citrate can be taken on an empty stomach. Calcium is best absorbed in 500 mg doses. Iron can interfere with calcium absorption so avoid taking calcium with a multivitamin with iron or an iron-rich meal. Iron-rich foods include beef or chicken liver, chicken and fish as well as beans, spinach and tofu.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

The reader’s second question concerned a belief that fruit should be eaten alone, not with a meal. The myth-busting site Snopes found this confusion circulating on the Web in 1998. Whether you eat fruit with a meal or on its own, it still will be digested and absorbed. Our digestive tract is complex and can handle what comes down the pipe.

The last question was whether you should wait 30 minutes after eating before brushing. Tooth enamel is weakened after eating acidic food. If you brush while the mouth is in an acidic state, enamel can be removed. Fruit juice, wine, vinegar, soda and sports drinks lead the list of acid-producing foods. Cheese and nuts neutralize the mouth. So whether to brush right away depends on what you eat. For a list of acid-containing foods check out http://www.pronamel.us .

  Comments  

Videos

What the Dolphins new defensive coordinator wants in his players

Ron DeSantis announces plan to create “equal opportunity scholarships”

View More Video

Trending Stories

Haiti is once again on edge, and humanitarian aid groups debate whether to go or cancel

February 14, 2019 07:24 PM

He was robbed while mowing a lawn. He talked. Then 40 bullets were fired into his house

February 14, 2019 08:45 AM

Here’s Jimmy Johnson’s multi-step guide as the Dolphins begin their rebuilding program

February 14, 2019 03:05 PM

Hearts are heavy, attendance is light at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

February 14, 2019 09:05 AM

PGA Tour star was wrong to stiff caddie, but vilification of Matt Kuchar is wrong, too

February 14, 2019 01:48 PM

Read Next

A few nutritious aphrodisiacs for Valentine’s Day

Chew on This

A few nutritious aphrodisiacs for Valentine’s Day

By Sheah Rarback

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 04, 2019 10:46 AM

For Valentine’s Day, nutritionist Sheah Rarback offers three possible aphrodisiacs that are familiar for flavor but not arousal.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE CHEW ON THIS

Study: More fiber in your diet can reduce risk of death, serious disease

Chew on This

Study: More fiber in your diet can reduce risk of death, serious disease

January 17, 2019 12:55 PM
Cod fish is mild tasting, high in protein and low in fat

Chew on This

Cod fish is mild tasting, high in protein and low in fat

January 04, 2019 05:54 PM
SMART New Year’s goals: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely

Chew on This

SMART New Year’s goals: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely

December 20, 2018 05:59 PM
Does stress really cause us to snack more and eat more sweets?

Chew on This

Does stress really cause us to snack more and eat more sweets?

December 07, 2018 01:10 PM
Flavor enhancer MSG is safe. Only avoid using if it makes you feel ill

Chew on This

Flavor enhancer MSG is safe. Only avoid using if it makes you feel ill

November 23, 2018 05:33 PM
Not just for pie: Pecans are delicious and nutritious

Chew on This

Not just for pie: Pecans are delicious and nutritious

November 08, 2018 06:29 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Miami Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Public Insight Network
  • Reader Panel
Advertising
  • Place a Classified
  • Media Kit
  • Commercial Printing
  • Public Notices
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story