Calcium absorption, bone health and chocolate eater
Have someone told you that chocolate impairs absorption of calcium?
Lets find out the truth.
Chocolate contains oxalate. This compound in cocoa beans can inhibit the absorption of calcium. Calcium binds to oxalate in your intestines, limiting its absorption into your bloodstream.
Researchers believe this may be due to oxalate inhibiting calcium absorption — but it could also be due to the chocolate’s sugar content, which may increase calcium excretion. Chocolate also contains flavonoids, a substance that is thought to be beneficial to bone health. Further tests are needed to fully determine the role chocolate plays in calcium balance and bone strength.
In addition to chocolate, oxalate is found in varying amounts in many other foods, such as beans, nuts, spinach, sweet potatoes, okra, kale, collards, chard, berries and tea.