We all know that calcium is needed for healthy bones and teeth. If calcium deficiency in the body is neglected for many years, it may cause bone disease in old age which is also known as osteoporosis in medical terms, and many other complications.

Calcium supplements or tablets are normally recommended by doctors all over the world to overcome calcium deficiency. These tablets provide up to 40% of elementary calcium obtained from food materials and help in its absorption by the bones. Therefore, calcium supplements and bone health are closely related to each other.

Calcium is mainly found in our bones, teeth, blood and cells. Almost 98% of calcium found in our body is accumulated in the bones where it is needed for proper growth and development of the skeletal system. Teenagers are advised to drink a lot of milk because this is the time when their bones are formed and after a time stop growing in length. Milk is composed of natural substances that help in maximum absorption of calcium in the bones.

Calcium supplements and bone health can be connected by the fact that they not only help in overcoming the deficiency of calcium in the body, but also prevent many degenerative diseases related to the skeletal system including osteoporosis.

Our immune system is mainly responsible for maintaining the health of bones. However, as we age our immune systems becomes weak and do not perform at its maximum due to other health conditions. At this age, the importance of nutritional supplements for bone health is emphasized by doctors and health specialists. Liquid calcium supplements and those available in tablet form are equally efficient and provide many benefits in terms of overall health and well-being.

In addition to the above-mentioned degenerative diseases, calcium is also important for the prevention of depression in women, PMS, obesity, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, kidney stones, muscle cramps, other skeletal problems and colon cancer.

There are minimal or no side effects of calcium supplements and are equally effective for adults and children. Try to find the ones made from calcium carbonate or more specifically coral calcium because it reduces acidity in the stomach and easily gets absorbed in the bloodstream if taken right after meals. Vitamin D helps in better absorption of calcium; therefore try to look for supplements that contain certain vitamins and minerals such as magnesium in addition to adequate quantities of calcium carbonate or calcium citrate.

By: John Gibb

Your body needs calcium at a young age to develop strong bones and teeth. This may not mean a lot when you’re young, but later on when your bones are brittle, your spine is bent over with osteoporosis and your teeth are falling apart, you’ll be asking yourself why you didn’t get enough calcium when you were young.

Osteoporosis reduces your bone mineral density, basically making your bones weaker and prone to fracturing. Preventing osteoporosis should be a concern early in life, as bone mass development culminates at the age of 30. After that it is imperative to continue to maintain the strength of your bones and teeth with calcium, Vitamin D and exercise, although this maintenance system would be a lot easier if you helped build your strong bones and teeth with calcium at an earlier age, from ten years old onwards.

Calcium also works at developing the body’s lymphatic fluids, which is important to the immune system.

Vitamin D is required in order for your bones to be able to absorb calcium. Good sources of vitamin D are eggs and milk, and fifteen minutes of sunlight each day. Our bodies absorb the sunlight to create our own Vitamin D. The best time to harvest all this sunlight is early in the morning when the light is not yet harsh.

Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, jogging, dancing and weight-lifting, also help strengthen our bones and teeth and fight calcium depletion.

Research has shown that individuals who were breast fed as babies are noted to have stronger teeth than those who were weaned to drinking cow’s milk right away, and especially those who stopped drinking milk at an early age. Pregnant women should take more liberal amounts of calcium than normal, because their babies are often depleting their mothers’ calcium. Smoking and drinking also deplete calcium and weaken the bones.

We need different levels of calcium at different ages. Infants from birth to six months should get 210 mg of calcium a day, while the calcium levels are raised to 270 mg a day from 7 to 12 months. Children up to three years should then get an average of 500 mg of calcium daily, rising to 800 in the next four years, then to 1,300 mg throughout their teenage life. At the age of 19, the recommended daily allowance of calcium has lowered to 1000 mg a day, until the age of 50. Those 50 years old and older must increase their intake of calcium up to 1,200 mg.

Too much calcium, on the other hand, can also be inadvisable as it could lead to hypocalcaemia, which will lower your body’s ability to absorb other nutrients. It could also weaken your kidneys.

Calcium is best found in milk and other dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt. People who are allergic to dairy products, are lactose intolerant and/or are vegans, or vegetarians who refuse to consume any kind of animal products, could also get their calcium from other sources, such as seaweed, particularly kelp and hijiki, nuts, oranges, vegetables such as broccoli, okra, collard greens and kale, and sardines, among others. Soy milk is also used as a substitute for milk, as with fortified orange juice. And of course, there are many excellent calcium supplements on the market. Calcium supplements usually also contain some amount of Vitamin D in their formulation.

So, whether you are lactose intolerant or not, there are no excuses not to get your recommended doses of calcium daily. In the long run, your bones and teeth will thank you for it.

By: Colin Albert

Calcium supplements are important for prevention of osteoporosis, which has also been associated with tooth loss. Calcium is needed for healthy bones, teeth, and muscle contraction.

It stands to reason that calcium would help not only osteoporosis but also preventing tooth loss through gum disease.

Pre and post menopausal women are among those that are at high risk for osteoporosis. Other situations that bring about gum disease and could lead to tooth loss include smoking or chewing tobacco, certain chronic illness such as diabetes, stress, poor oral hygiene, and heredity. Evidently, calcium is a good solution to help prevent gum disease, even if you were born with not the best dental genes.

You can get calcium from food or in supplement form. Calcium rich foods include milk, yogurt, and dark green vegetables. Women at risk of osteoporosis should take a minimum of 1200 mg of calcium per day.

What Type Of Calcium Should You Take?

There are several types of calcium that are sold in supplement form. The type you take is important since some dissolve and can be used by the body, while others require extra stomach acid for absorption, and may not be absorbed at all.

The different types of calcium include citrate, carbonate, dolomite, coral, gluconate and lactate.

Calcium citrate is the best and easiest to absorb. You can take it anytime including on an empty stomach since it doesn’t require high a mounts of stomach acid to dissolve. However, you may need more pills to get enough “elemental calcium”.

Some prefer the natural form through dolomite. However, you should know that this type can be hazardous. A study published from University of Alberta found it is insoluble in stomach acid and is eliminated before it can be absorbed and used by the body. Also, dolomite may contain toxin elements including lead.

Coral calcium should be avoided. Many health claims have been made about it, but not established as fact.

To prevent tooth loss, brush with toothpaste with baking soda to help neutralize acids in the mouth and take calcium supplements, preferably the citrate form. Eat a balanced diet rich in calcium and you’ll keep smiling with happy teeth.

By: Dr. Flora Stay