It is widely believed that lime helps in the fight against allergies, its symptoms and its occurrence. Many people use them when the first symptoms of allergies appear, such as itching and rash. But is it true? How does calcium really work and what is its impact and importance for people struggling with various types of allergies?
Lime and the occurrence of allergiesAccording to one of the theories, it is believed that a deficiency of calcium in the body may contribute to the faster development of allergies. This is why a calcium-rich diet is so important. Dairy is the richest source of it. Drinking two glasses of milk provides 50-70% of the daily requirement for calcium. Other products rich in calcium are cereal products, vegetables and fruits. However, the absorption of calcium from food products is unfortunately very limited, because we can absorb only 40% of it. That is why it is so important to enrich the diet with dietary supplements with calcium.
Calcium – allergy help, not a drugIt should be remembered that calcium used in allergies has a supportive effect, soothes its symptoms. It cannot be used as a means to cure allergies and in monotherapy. It should be taken along with other medications.
How to choose the right preparation?There are several elements to consider:
- addition of other active substances: in the treatment of allergy symptoms, preparations with calcium are used in combination with: quercetin (reduces the amount of nasal secretion) and zinc (stimulates the immune system
- the form in which it occurs: preparations in liquid form, i.e. effervescent tablets and syrups, have the fastest absorption and action properties. Lime itself has an unpleasant taste, but in pharmacies there are many flavor versions that are worth reaching for.
- form of calcium compound: organic salts (calcium gluconate and calcium lactate) or inorganic salts such as calcium carbonate are available in pharmacies. The first ones – organic salts – have better assimilation. Look for information on the packaging or ask your pharmacist for advice.
- economical packaging: when buying, it is worth taking care of our wallet, so when looking at the price, it is also worth taking a look at the dosage – how many sachets, tablets are contained in the package, what is the daily dose and how much is enough for the package.
How to take calcium to be effective?
- take preparations with calcium during meals and with vitamin D, then we will increase the absorption. However, it should be remembered that the exception here are meals containing large amounts of oxalate and fiber (porridge, sorrel)
- when taking calcium in larger amounts than 500 mg (0,5 g), it is recommended to divide the dose into two or more parts – to be taken at breakfast and during dinner
- when using medicines for heartburn and ulcer disease, you should take a break of two hours before taking calcium
- when preparations based on calcium carbonate are used and side effects are used, mainly constipation, the preparation should be changed to another one, such as chelates or organic calcium compounds cause less side effects