I have met a lot of people recently who are taking calcium as a supplement, and many who have no idea that not all calcium supplements are equal, and that some forms can be very dangerous to your health. By equal, this means not only can the calcium supplement sources that make up the supplement be very different brand to brand, but what can also differ is how well the body actually absorbs the different types available. After all, the latter is why you are taking a supplement in the first place. This is why a little research (like I hope to provide with the following post), can go a long way to ensuring your body and health is not compromised through incorrect calcium supplementation.
The Safest Forms Of Calcium & Calcium Supplements
Calcium is known firmly as a main mineral found in large supply in strong healthy bones and teeth, so it is no wonder that the UK market is a wash with calcium supplements, including in your supermarket shops, health shops right through to department stores. This is why it is vital you become aware of the most superior types of calcium if you are looking to start supplementing with one, or if you are currently already doing so.
As not everyone actually needs a calcium supplement, not if they are eating a healthy and varied diet especially, but there are certain times when a person does need to supplement with calcium. So be sure that the calcium supplement you choose is going to actually help you get the calcium you need and isn’t just making over-inflated claims of high doses!
According to Mark Timon, the best types of calcium ultimately come from plants, like Hydrilla. Which has shown time after time, an ability to be easily absorbed (offering ‘superior bioavailability’ to be precise) by the body. Other plants that have shown similar bioavailability include spinach and broccoli.
Other supplement types that are the most absorbable forms of calcium include;
- legitimate plant calciums,
- Krebs cycle calcium,
- calcium orotate,
- calcium citrate-malate,
- calcium aspartate and
- true fully reacted calcium amino acid chelate.
So be sure to spend time looking at the labels to see the names listed here before purchasing your next calcium supplement!
And be sure to avoid the following types of calcium supplements:
- Purified calcium carbonate
- eggshell calcium,
- oyster shell calcium and
- coral calcium.
All of the above are very similar forms of calcium carbonate which is one of the most popular forms of calcium used in supplements but despite its ‘high bioavailability’ claims, these have all been proven as false in independent tests.
Another type of calcium supplement to avoid is synthetic calcium that is made in a laboratory usually made through a common acid-base reaction. Again these supplements claim high bio-availability but are not actually easily absorbed by the body.
Enhance Calcium Absorption With Vitamin D
Our diet should be so well tweaked that we really try to ensure we get plenty of calcium naturally through eating organic vegetables that contain it. To enhance your diet, calcium supplementation and ultimately calcium absorption easily is to ensure you are getting enough vitamin D. As research has found that calcium cannot be absorbed from the digestive tract without getting in enough Vitamin D in the bloodstream.
Vitamin D levels cannot be satisfied to the amounts needed by the body by food alone, so it is vital you either get through sufficient and safe sunlight exposure, or through supplementation.
Easy Ways To Boost Your Diet With Calcium
A healthy and varied diet should provide most people, including children, with plenty of bio-available calcium. Which for an adult can be between 700 – 1000 mg.
An easy way to ensure your diet is rich in calcium, and to avoid needing to buy calcium supplements, is to include plenty of the following vegetables in your weekly diet:
- spinach,
- broccoli,
- sweet potatoes,
- collard greens,
- kale and
- bok choy.
If you still feel you need to add in more calcium to your diet, more than what your diet is giving you for various different health reasons, then do please bear the above in mind when going to buy a calcium supplement.
