Strong healthy bones are important to an active healthy life. Everyone needs calcium to build and maintain strong bones. Calcium is also important in many other key body functions and in maintaining weight. If you cannot get enough calcium in your diet, then you should take a supplement. People who have osteopenia or osteoporosis are especially in need of good calcium. This is true, even if they take prescription drugs to help their condition. There are many calcium supplements available, but few have the characteristics that make the calcium safe and useful. As a matter of fact, some of the most popular calcium supplements just plain don’t work, and many have high levels of the toxic element lead. Every solution for insuring better bone health begins with getting the proper dosage and the best quality of calcium available.
Vitamin D is needed to further enhance intestinal absorption of calcium. This vitamin is really a natural hormone and is important in bone health, heart and cardiovascular and cancer protection. New research strongly supports much higher intake of vitamin D every day. Get 10 minutes of sun exposure, high intake of low-fat dairy products or a supplement of D3 (cholecalciferol) each day. I suggest a total daily intake of 2000 iu.
A calcium supplement should also contain magnesium. Magnesium activates key enzymes that stimulate bone cells and result in proper calcium deposition. The body tries to keep calcium and magnesium levels in balance. A calcium supplement without magnesium will adversely affect the absorption of calcium because the body will try to keep the proper balance between the two ingredients.
Some of the common supplements have been found to contain unsafe levels of lead. This fact was brought to light in a medical research article published in the Journal of the AMA in 2000. It is important that your calcium is lead-free. Many of the leading brands use calcium sources contaminated with small doses of lead. The human body cannot metabolize lead. Exposure to small amounts of lead over time means long-term accumulation. This can cause serious injury to the brain, central nervous system, red blood cells and kidneys. A calcium supplement that does not disclose the fact that it is lead-free should be avoided.
Another problem with many calcium supplements is poor absorption. They simply don’t readily dissolve in the body! For the body to be able to use the calcium, it has to dissolve and be absorbed. Our choice, as the best calcium, is available for purchase at our office or by mail order from Clinician’s Choice by American Health Products in Virginia. It is made in a special process with amino acids that allows it to be absorbed effectively. Osteo Guard also contains the trace minerals needed for complete bone health. These trace minerals include Magnesium, Manganese, Boron, and Zinc. These minerals are essential to ensure bone mineralization.
Clinician’s Choice products are manufactured in an FDA OTC (over-the-counter) pharmaceutical inspected factory – guaranteeing the highest standards available. This means the products are tested, within FDA licensed factories, for purity, consistency, and dosage accuracy. They must also pass strict dissolution standards. This process guarantees that what is on the product label will reach your blood stream within 30 minutes. Less than 10% of supplements on the market can make that claim. The choice of Osteo Guard not only means you will be getting the best calcium supplement available, but that you will be getting a safe and effective product.
Tums antacids also have calcium and are chewable, which makes the calcium more absorbable. Any other product should be tested for dissolving ability in a glass of water and the potential lead content should be considered. Any calcium supplement should be taken with food in 2 or 3 doses per day.
CALCIUM
Recommended daily allowance of calcium:
| Life Stage | RDA (mg) |
|---|---|
| Children aged 1-10 years | 800-1200 |
| Persons aged 11-24 years; Pregnant and lactating women | 1200-1500 |
| Men aged 25-65; Women aged 25-50 years; Women aged 51-65 years who are taking estrogen | 1000 |
| Women aged 51-65 years who are not taking estrogen; Persons older than 65 years | 1500 |
(RDA = recommended daily allowance)
Calcium-rich foods
| Type of food (serving size) | Calcium (mg/serving) |
|---|---|
| Calcium (mg/serving) | 1000 |
| Quaker Oatmeal for Women | 500 |
| Sardines with bones (1/2 cup) | 375 |
| Skim milk (1 cup) | 302 |
| Fruit juice (1 cup, with added calcium) | 300 |
| Yogurt (1 cup, plain, low-fat) | 250-400 |
| Ice cream (1 cup) | 150-300 |
| Collards (1 cup) | 150 |
| Tofu (1/2 cup) | 150 |
| Broccoli (1 cup, fresh cooked) | 136 |
| Carrots (1 cup) | 100 |
| Cottage cheese (1/2 cup, low-fat) | 78 |
