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Foods to Avoid for Hypocalcemic Patients

Hypocalcemia is a condition indicated by low calcium levels in the body. The main cause of the low calcium is an imbalance in the body's electrolytes. The diet of a hypocalcemic person is heavily monitored so that calcium is properly attained, and the electrolytes are adequate. Hypocalcemia is a dangerous condition that is often a precursor to more serious illnesses like chronic renal failure and various blood disorders.

  1. Caffeine

    • Caffeinated beverages may lead to dehydration, which in turn causes the electrolyte deficiency of hypocalcemia. Caffeine, according to the American Heart Association, increases urination that may lead to dehydration. Not only is caffeine available in many teas, coffees, and soft drinks, but caffeine is also found in certain nuts and chocolate. If a hypocalcemia patient truly wants a caffeinated food item, plenty of water should be consumed alongside.

    Sodium-Rich Foods

    • Sodium is an essential nutrient that helps you absorb water you drink and vitamins from food you eat. Excessive amounts of sodium in your daily routine will cause your aldosterone (a hormone that manages salt absorption) levels to be low. According to the Ultracycling website, high aldosterone levels will help preserve sodium already in your body. Limiting sodium-rich foods will help your body's natural defenses maintain proper levels of sodium, which in turn is less likely to be lost during activities. When a person with low aldosterone levels sweats, sodium is pulled from the blood stream and sent to places that surround cells, like organs and muscle. This leads to further dehydration and an imbalance in electrolytes, which is the root cause of hypocalcemia.

    Acidic Foods

    • The body cannot have high amounts of acidic foods, or it will counteract the alkaline minerals, such as calcium, depleting their levels. Low levels of calcium can cause the body to pull reserved calcium from bones, leading to other health conditions like osteoporosis. By pulling out the reserves of calcium, a low grade of hypocalcemia may easily turn into more serious hypocalcemia. Acidic foods are generally okay, but some foods are highly acidic. You should monitor the amount of meat and dairy products like cheese that you consume daily. Processed and prepackaged foods are also high in acids, since they are preserved to last longer on the market shelf.

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