Should You Take Calcium Supplements?

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Calcium is important for bone health throughout your life, and you may be wondering if you should take calcium supplements. As with all nutrients, diet is the best way to get calcium. However, if your diet falls short, supplements may be a good option for you.

Before adding a calcium supplement to your health arsenal, find out who needs to take calcium supplements and get tips for taking calcium.  

Who Needs to Take Calcium Supplements?

Two groups of people often face the risk of calcium deficiency: older adults and individuals following specific diets. Since these groups might not get enough dietary calcium, their bone health can become jeopardized and their risk for osteoporosis increases.

If you fall into one of these categories, evaluate your diet to determine if you’re getting enough calcium. If not, talk to your medical professional about taking calcium supplements.

Tips for Taking Calcium

Below are some great tips for optimizing your calcium intake when taking calcium supplements. Following these tips will help you reap the maximum bone density benefits while steering clear of taking excess calcium.

Consult with a Doctor or Dietician

Before starting to take any supplement, it’s important to consult with your doctor or dietician. Personalized advice is critical to your overall health, including your bone health.  

By consulting a doctor or dietician, you can be confident that you have a supplement plan that not only matches your medical records and eating patterns but also avoids potential clashes with any prescription medications you may be taking.

Track How Much Calcium You Eat

Before purchasing calcium supplements, scrutinize your diet to determine if it falls short of the amount of calcium you need daily. Prior to taking a supplement, try to consume calcium-rich foods, like dairy products and green vegetables, every day. However, if you find it difficult to get enough calcium from diet alone, filling in the nutritional gaps with a supplement will be important.

Split Your Doses

Dividing your daily calcium supplement intake into smaller doses is recommended. Doing this enhances calcium absorption since our bodies can only process so much calcium at once. To further optimize the effectiveness of your calcium supplements, take them with meals.

Consider Pairing Calcium with Other Supplements

Pairing calcium supplements with vitamin D or magnesium has been shown to significantly enhance bone health. Vitamin D facilitates the absorption of calcium, while magnesium plays a crucial role in the conversion of vitamin D into its active form, boosting overall bone density. However, as mentioned earlier, it's important to consult a healthcare professional before adding multiple supplements to your routine.

If you’re not getting enough calcium from diet alone, be proactive about your bone density by taking calcium supplements. Follow the tips above to ensure you’re getting the dose you need based on your overall health and lifestyle and to foster optimal absorption.

If you’re going to begin taking calcium supplements, shop Country Life Vitamins online to find the type of calcium that’s best for you.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/calcium-supplements

https://www.lifeextension.com/wellness/supplements/take-calcium-supplements-for-best-absorption

https://whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com/guidelines-for-supplementing-with-calcium/