Calcium is essential in the prevention of bone loss. This is particularly important for women who are approaching menopause as they’re susceptible to osteoporosis. I’m not sure what age women should begin incorporating more calcium into their diet but I do know that they need more after menopause. I’ve heard varying recommendations of 1200-1500 mg. of calcium. Most of us are aware that there are special bone support formulas for people who already have osteoporosis.
We hear a lot about calcium and there are many arguments going back and forth about which form is best. We’ve heard a lot about coral calcium in the news, thanks to Robert Barefoot. However, I never really thought coral calcium was any better than some of the other forms.
I do think that some of them are better than others. There’s calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, calcium ascorbate, calcium lactate, calcium from bonemeal, calcium hydroxyapatite (which is a variation on bonemeal), calcium citrate/malate, calcium from oyster shell and others that I’ve neglected to mention. Many calcium supplements also contain magnesium but I hear more about the importance of Vitamin D. Is magnesium really essential in a supplement if we are already getting enough in our diet? I’d really be interested in hearing more about the magnesium angle. Calcium also comes in liquid form.
A few years ago, before I started spending too much time in the discussion forums, I spent all my time looking up information about health and nutrition, vitamins, minerals and supplements. I also spent a lot of time looking at supplements in the health food stores. Not everyone can afford to spend a lot of money on supplements so it’s a good idea to try to get what we need from our diet.
I think it’s a good idea to combine dietary calcium with a calcium supplement. You can spend a fortune on supplements. I’m not currently taking a supplement but I should be. A couple years ago, I took Solgar Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D. Each tablet contains 250 mg. of calcium which required taking four tablets per day for a total of 1,000 mg. Some people complain that calcium supplements cause stomach upset so it is often recommended that calcium be taken in smaller amounts (spread out through the day). It’s more expensive this way but I think it works better for me this way. I just got out of the habit of taking them.
I like milk and cheese and other dairy products but I still don’t think I’m getting enough in my food alone. There are other food sources. I like salmon and broccoli and most other green vegetables. Here’s one link that lists other food sources:
Calcium, Vitamin D and Your Health
Here’s a website that seems to think that “EZorb Calcium” is the best thing on the planet:
This is the website for “Bone Assure” :
lifeextensionvitamins.com/bonasforofca.html
So, who are we to believe with all the claims out there to confuse us? I’d also like to hear from people who feel that they have benefited from taking calcium supplements and which one they seem to think works best.
I neglected to mention the importance of exercise in the battle against bone loss but I’m focusing on calcium. Weight-bearing exercise is definitely important whether it’s brisk walking or your exercise routine of choice. Many people find yoga and other stretching exercises very beneficial. I think that yoga would help with stiffness that some people experience as we get older.
