Indigestion & Calcium

Antacids typically used to relieve the symptoms of indigestion contain calcium. In fact, you can use antacids as a calcium supplement, advises the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, NDDIC. Your body contains more calcium than any other mineral. Calcium is a part of many essential bodily functions, including regulating your heartbeat and building strong bones and teeth. Consult a health-care professional before taking calcium-based antacids as a supplement or to treat your indigestion.

Indigestion

The term indigestion refers to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms related to your digestion. These symptoms include feeling full after eating a small amount of food and uncomfortably full after eating. You may experience bloating, nausea and pain or a burning sensation in the area between the bottom of your sternum and your navel. A combination of calcium, magnesium and aluminum found in over-the-counter indigestion medications helps to relieve your symptoms, according to the NDDIC. Natural ways to treat indigestion include eating small low-fat meals, avoiding coffee, reducing stress through yoga and quitting smoking.

Calcium Absorption

Some people take antacids for indigestion to reduce the amount of acid in their stomachs. Acid blockers can impair your body's ability to absorb calcium in food and dietary supplements. Calcium typically requires stomach acid for proper digestion. Calcium citrate is a special form of calcium that does not require an acidic environment for proper digestion. Talk to a health-care professional about which calcium supplement is right for you.

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a more serious form of acid indigestion in that it occurs with greater frequency -- two times or more per week. When you have this condition, the opening at the top of your stomach opens when it's not supposed to or fails to close properly. The opening causes partially digested food mixed with stomach acid to come up the esophagus to the back of your throat, causing a burning sensation in your chest. Over-the-counter medicine to neutralize the acid in your stomach and relieve acid reflux typically contains a mixture of calcium, magnesium and aluminum, according to the NDDIC. Food including citrus fruit, fried foods, garlic and mint flavoring can aggravate this condition.

Calcium Supplements

When your diet does not supply a sufficient amount of calcium, calcium supplements can help. Oddly enough, although calcium is used to treat indigestion, taking calcium supplements may cause side effects, including indigestion and constipation. If you experience side effects from calcium supplements and the form of calcium in your supplement is calcium carbonate, the University of New Hampshire suggests trying calcium citrate instead.