Calcium Supplements
What's in the best calcium supplement?
Why should you take calcium supplements?
For some people, a calcium supplement is needed to reach optimal levels of health.
Calcium is needed for the body to function properly.
It helps you build and maintain strong bones. It can help maintain a strong heart while reducing blood clotting.
There may also be a link between your weight and calcium intake.
The best way to get calcium is from your diet. Experts recommend you get your calcium from the
food you eat.
Unfortunately most of us don't. Most people's diets don't supply them with enough
calcium.
Not getting enough calcium can lead to serious health complications.
If your diet does not supply
you with enough calcium, you should take calcium supplements. There may also be other health
reasons why a calcium supplement is needed. This is when a doctor might recommend a calcium supplement.
It is recommended to get at least 1000 to 1300 mg of calcium per day. The easiest way to do this
is to create a diet with calcium rich foods. If you can't meet these daily amounts, you may need
to supplement your calcium.
Calcium supplements are best absorbed in 500 mg dosages. It is believed to be more effective to
take two separate dosages of 500 mg, rather than 1000 mg all at once.
You should be able to get
at least 500 mg of calcium from your diet, and therefore one dosage of 500 mg in supplement form
should be enough. Remember, it is better to try and get your calcium from natural foods.
If you're interested in a calcium product, you will want to know what elemental calcium is.
What is elemental calcium?
Calcium is not often found in its pure state. Some minerals and compounds are combined with other
elements. You cannot go to the store and buy pure calcium. It is combined with other elements to
make it less reactive.
Before your body absorbs the calcium, the other elements are broken off, or separated when you
digest the pill.
So a 500 mg calcium pill may not contain 500 mg of pure calcium. It will be a combination of
calcium and another compound. That 500 mg pill might only have 300 mg of calcium.
Elemental calcium refers to the exact amount of calcium that you can use from the pill. Think
of it as the pure calcium found in the supplement.
The best calcium supplement contains different types of calcium.
If you read the labels on a box of calcium supplements, you may notice different types of
calcium. These are usually calcium carbonate and calcium citrate.
You will usually have a hard time finding out the exact ratio of calcium carbonate and citrate in
a specific supplement.
Sometimes getting the pill to a proper size will require mixing these types of calcium. Calcium
carbonate has more calcium by weight, so adding it to a formula will allow you to get a smaller
tablet but still maintain good levels of elemental calcium.
Also, calcium citrate is believed to be better absorbed, but provides less elemental calcium.
High quality supplements will have this combination properly evaluated.
Other ingredients your supplement should have.
A good quality supplement should also have:
- Vitamin D
- Silicon
- Boron
- Magnesium
- Vitamin K
Magnesium is another strong component of healthy bones. It is beneficial combining it into a
calcium supplement. Vitamin D is known for helping your body absorb calcium. It also helps the
function of other minerals that are good for your bones.
Silicon is needed for proper utilization of calcium. It is a crucial factor in the calcium
mineralization of
the bone matrix. It also helps stabilize body tissues. Boron and vitamin K help
the rate of mineralization of the bone.
Supplement manufacturers that create very high quality supplements will have these different
ingredients in their calcium supplement.
What about Coral supplements?
We all know there's no magical pill. You should steer clear of quick fix solutions. If it's too
good to be true, it often is.
Coral supplements have been marketed to stretch the truth regarding their abilities. They have
exaggerated the benefits of their products. They had some infomercials claiming to cure hundreds
of diseases.
There isn't enough research that backs any of the outlandish claims of coral supplements. Coral
calcium is just a form of calcium carbonate. Coral calcium is no better than other sources of
calcium. As long as a calcium supplement is taken with a meal, it will have a standard absorption
rate.
By the way, it is illegal to remove any substances from live coral reefs. The marketing claims
are just too exaggerated and not factual.
Calcium and kidney stones.
Does calcium cause kidney stones?... Well, the opposite looks to be more accurate.
Recent studies suggest that not getting enough calcium may cause kidney stones.
It was once believed that kidney stones were associated with high levels of calcium in urine.
High amounts of consumed calcium was therefore thought to be linked to the formation of kidney
stones.
Some studies now concluded that in certain conditions, low levels of calcium may actually enhance the
formation of kidney stones.
Calcium from your diet or supplements will general not increase the risk of kidney stones. Recent
studies feel that the opposite might be true. Getting proper levels of calcium will more than
likely reduce the risk of kidney stones.
If kidneys stones are an issue for you, always consult your doctor.
Calcium Related Pages
Calcium Rich Foods
You must get at least 1000 to 1300 mg of calcium daily. Your diet is the best place to get the calcium you need. Make sure you're getting
enough calcium rich foods into your system.
Calcium Deficiency Symptoms
Not having enough calcium can lead to health complications. Osteoporosis is the most common disease due to low levels of calcium. 1 in 4 women over
the age of 50 have a calcium deficiency. It's important to learn how to avoid it.
Calcium Overdose
Can you get too much calcium? Not getting enough nutrients will always be a bigger issue than taking too much. The truth is, too much of any
substance can be harmful. You should try not to consume more than 2500 mg of calcium per day.
Benefits of Calcium
Your bones benefit the most from calcium. However there are some other benefits. Calcium is also important for your heart, and can help you manage your weight.
Maybe you don't need a supplement right now
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