Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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I've been using digestive enzymes with some success for a few months now. My mother just noticed that the NOW tablets contain calcium carbonate and wanted to know if this additive is problematic.

I don't know anything about calcium carbonate except that it is commonly used in antacids. I find this strange, since the whole idea of taking digestive enzymes is to increase stomach acid....

Does anybody have any answers as to whether calcium carbonate is an additive I should be worried about? Is there research suggesting it is harmful? (Yes, I understand that absence of evidence is not the same thing as evidence of absence.)

Should I be ordering the capsule form instead (which doesn't contain calcium carbonate)?

flag	asked Jan 18 2011 at 19:06 JJ 6,779●13●37

	I have the tablets myself (by mistake). They're a heck of a lot cheaper, for some strange reason. I'm interested in an answer to your question. On a sidenote, I'm up to 5 a meal but still no 'warm, fuzzy feeling in my stomach' How many did you have to chug initially to get that feeling? – Tom Jan 18 2011 at 19:47
	I got up to 9 and had no warm sensation. Poliquin recommends stopping after 7. I typically take 5 as an arbitrary amount. I like the tabs because they are smaller and easier to swallow. – JJ Jan 18 2011 at 20:16
	Robb Wolf seems to indicate that you can dial it down after a while, until you essentially don't need them anymore. Has that been your experience? Because 15 pills a day for me might be a bit expensive (for me personally, as a student). – Tom Jan 18 2011 at 20:24
	I am taking them in an effort to gain weight, so I haven't cut back just yet. I eat a lot at a time. But yes, when I'm going for weight maintenance, I will probably cut back and see how it goes. The only real answer is to experiment on yourself and see how it goes. Melissa recommends drinking diluted apple cider vinegar -- might be a cheaper option for you. – JJ Jan 18 2011 at 20:58
	Yes, I'm doing it for weight gain as well. I think it's a smarter solution than just eating enormous quantities of food. (Sorry if I've just hijacked your thread). – Tom Jan 18 2011 at 21:21

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Tom · Answer 1 · 2011-01-18 21:23:23Z UTC

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The only thing remotely related to this that I can find is this link: http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f15/zma-concern-quick-question-836232/

Might be best to just contact the manufacturer?

answered Jan 18 2011 at 21:23

Tom
947●1●6●12

	Interesting. Thanks for the link. My mom was looking into buying another brand that had "colloidal silicon dioxide" in it. Is the CSD simply the silica packet? – JJ Jan 18 2011 at 21:36
	i think it sure. likely, not entirely sure though. – Tom Jan 18 2011 at 22:47

calcium carbonate in digestive enzymes

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