When choosing which calcium supplement or antacid is right for you look at the quantity and type of calcium compound that is present in the product. There are several types of calcium compounds used in vitamin supplements. Calcium carbonate and calcium citrate are the most common. Calcium aspartate, calcium phosphate and calcium lactate also appear. In the case of calcium carbonate, multiply by 40% to determine the amount of elemental calcium available to your system. Calcium citrate conversion is about 21% and is lower for other calcium compounds. For example, 500 mg (milligrams) of calcium carbonate yields 200 mg of elemental calcium. Calcium carbonate is the most common antacid and its breakdown in the stomach into its component parts, elemental calcium and carbonate, depend upon the acidic environment there.

Calcium plays an important part in your diet because it contributes to muscle function, and what most people think of regarding calcium, it helps prevent osteoporosis. If your body determines there isn’t enough calcium in the blood stream then it will be scavenged from the bones in the skeletal system leading to the osteoporosis condition.

An important consideration in your choice of a calcium supplement is whether it also contains any vitamin D. Vitamin D enhances the uptake of calcium. Remember, vitamin D is also known as the “sunshine vitamin” because you can ‘get’ some simply from being outside in the fresh air and sunlight so it’s not absolutely necessary that it be included in the ingredients list, but it does help.

Like many things in life, more is not always better. Over 2,500 mg of calcium is usually considered the threshold of “too much” and possibly as low as 1,200 mg. Too much calcium can lead to serious medical problems.

Sources of calcium include dairy products (like milk, cheese or yogurt), many vegetables (the green leafy kind, like spinach) and some nuts (like almonds). “Hard” water is also a source for calcium and other minerals. Seashells and eggshells are also natural calcium sources but other more palatable delivery forms are recommended. Another of the more famous sources of calcium is on the coast of England. The famous White Cliffs of Dover is an enormous geologic calcium carbonate formation but the Queen might object if you showed up and began eating away at the southern end of Britain.

By: Paul Buck

Maintaining proper pH balance is confusing, but adding calcium supplements and health drinks to your diet is a smart way of simplifying the issue. It is extremely challenging for even the most health conscious person to reach the recommended proportion of alkaline foods to acid forming foods each day. That recommended ratio is 80% alkaline to 20% acid. While most of us eat plenty of acid forming foods without even trying, it takes some conscious effort to consume more alkaline forming foods.

Take a good look at your own diet and you will see that proper pH balance is not easy to accomplish without some help. Understand that we are talking about the acidity or alkalinity of your blood when discussing pH balance. Things like:

Coffee, sodas, alcohol, chocolate, white and wheat flour, cheese, meats, rice and beans are common acid forming foods. Alkaline foods are more likely to be fresh fruits and vegetables.

As we all know, most people don’t stick to a diet of 80% alkaline foods, so let’s take a look at how calcium supplements and health drinks can assist. First, it is imperative to understand that the best sources of calcium come from whole foods. Dandelion root and alfalfa are two excellent whole food ingredients rich in this valuable mineral. When calcium is attached to a source of this nature, the body is better able to absorb it and put it to use.

How does the body use calcium to regulate pH balance?

Think of it this way: The human body starts out in a slightly alkaline state, but over time becomes more and more acidic. When the intake of alkaline foods is not high enough to neutralize acidity, then the body must use whatever calcium is available to maintain pH balance. Usually, the next best source of something alkaline is the calcium in your bones. It only makes sense, then, that a calcium supplement will help you preserve bone strength while also maintaining the pH level of your blood for other issues.

If you also regularly consume health drinks with high alkalinity levels, you will be giving all that acid forming food, the one, two punch.

What kinds of health drinks are alkaline?

This is easy to remember. Since most fruits and vegetables are good for pH balance, it stands to reason that health drinks made from whole foods are naturally alkaline. However, it is key that the health drinks you choose do not include added sugar, artificial sweeteners, or high fructose corn syrup, as those are acid forming. What is most important is that the health drinks contain whole food ingredients such as real lemons, peaches, cinnamon, and/or herbal teas, as these are alkaline forming foods.

You will not find advanced health drinks in a convenience store, the local supermarket, or even your typical health food store. The best place to find higher quality alkaline forming foods and drinks is on the Internet. Search for all natural health drinks that are not sold in stores.

When shopping for calcium, remember to choose a natural whole food calcium supplement. Look for alfalfa and dandelion root in the ingredients. Also, check that Vitamin D2 is present as that provides the necessary component to work with calcium for improved bone strength and density. Vitamin D2 is crucial to aid the body in absorbing calcium.

By adding more alkaline forming foods and health drinks to your daily diet, you will find that your body responds. Many people have enjoyed fewer aches and pains, better sleep and numerous other health benefits simply by addressing the issue of calcium deficiency with a good calcium supplement. In any case, payng attention to your pH balance and the number of alkaline foods or acid forming foods in your diet is a positive step toward perfect health.

By: Cliff Smith

Does coral calcium tea provide you with the same health benefits as a coral calcium supplement? Those who are drinking this tea should be aware that they are getting only a partial benefit – just about 2% – of the marine corals nutrients. Only those nutrients which are dissolved in the tea water are giving you the benefit, otherwise this drink is just coral water.

When coral calcium is mixed with water there are changes that occur which are both physical and chemical. The alkalinity of the water goes up which in turn makes its PH level higher and helps to balance the PH level of the body. The coral calcium changes the oxidation reduction potential of the water. Still the fact is that there is not enough of the coral sand in the tea bag to produce fast physio chemical change. In case the tea bags did produce these rapid changes then it is possible that they have been treated by adding other strong alkalinizing substances such as calcium hydroxide or other oxides of alkaline metals.

Taking coral calcium in the form of a capsule or powder is much more effective than drinking coral calcium tea.

Many a times people who drink coral calcium tea are not even aware of the amount of coral calcium that is there in their drink. The estimate is that depending on the brand and the type of tea bag and capsule you would receive between ten and fifty times the mineral nutrients in a capsule as opposed to the tea.

However, coral water, as it is called, does benefit the body, and many swear by it as a homeopathic treatment. The one key factor in this treatment is that it provides mineral enrichment. This tea often relieves people of their aches and pains, as the coral water contains enough coral calcium and other minerals that their bodies have a need for.

There are benefits associated with drinking coral calcium tea, however you should not stop taking your calcium supplements since this tea does not act as a replacement. Be sure to always buy your tea and supplements from a reputable source so you know you are getting a good quality product and don’t forget to talk to your health care professional before taking any new supplements.

By: Lee Dobbins