Is Calcium Sulfate Bad For You?
Also Known As: calcium sulphate, gypsum
Short answer
Calcium sulfate, or gypsum, is a naturally-occurring form of calcium. Aside from minor side effects when consumed in excess, there’s no evidence that it’s bad for you.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Calcium sulfate is used in a wide variety of foods. It appears as a coagulant, a firming agent, a leavening chemical, a conditioner, a stabilizer, and a thickening agent. It can be found in pastas, breads, baking powder, cheese, jellies, candies, and tofu.
Generally, calcium sulfate is a minor ingredient - you'll encounter it only in small amounts in food. The Food and Drug Administration classifies calcium sulfate as GRAS - generally recognized as safe. Their opinion is shared by the European Food Safety Authority, who assessed calcium sulfate as safe in 2008.
Exceeding your daily limit for calcium - about 2,500 milligrams in healthy adults - can make you constipated. In some cases, taking calcium from supplements has been linked to the development of kidney stones. There's weaker scientific evidence that regular supplementary doses of calcium may increase your risk of certain cancers as well. This is particularly a concern in older women, who sometimes take calcium supplements to guard against osteoporosis.
Calcium sulfate, however, is not the same as calcium supplements. There's a significant amount in foods like tofu, but not a dangerous amount; a four-ounce serving will provide you with about 15% your daily calcium needs. According to the European Food Safety Authority, calcium sulfate in mineral water provides about as much bioavailable calcium as milk.
The important thing to remember when assessing ingredients like calcium sulfate is that a scientific-sounding name doesn't always match up to a dangerous preservative or chemical. Calcium sulfate has not been demonstrated to be unsafe. Despite the fact that it sounds like it was invented in a lab, it's a naturally-occurring and basic chemical that's easy to find in nature. The amounts found in your food are generally very small, and you're unlikely to be harmed by it.
Possible short-term side effects
- constipation
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interference with certain medications
Commonly found in
- pastas
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breads
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baking powder
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cheese
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jellies
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candies
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tofu
Benefits
- calcium is essential for a wide variety of bodily functions
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calcium reduces the risk of broken bones and osteoporosis
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