Posts Tagged ‘ Supplements ’

The Best Calcium

“I drink all the milk I can so that I get all the calcium I’ll ever need.”

It’s no lie that the easiest way to get calcium is through our diet. But how much of the calcium we consume is really absorbed and used by our body?

Although many foods are fortified with calcium, some people may still need to take calcium supplements. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, many Americans consume less than half the amount of calcium recommended to build and maintain healthy bones.

There are two types of calcium that the body absorbs: ionic and non-ionic.

Non-ionic calcium is not as well absorbed as ionic calcium. Why is that? The body uses and stores away ionic calcium so it can easily absorb the type that’s already in the form it can use. However, non-ionic calcium has to be converted to ionic calcium in the body so that it can be used but it can only convert so much calcium at once. This is why only a limited amount of non-ionic calcium will be absorbed by the body. That’s probably one of a number of reasons why many people who eat calcium fortified foods may still not be receiving enough calcium, no matter how much you eat or drink at once.

What about calcium supplements?

There are many calcium supplements that vary according to how much calcium it contains and how well it may be absorbed by the body. The two most popular forms are calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. Neither of these are ionic calcium supplements.

  • Calcium carbonate contains more calcium than calcium citrate but needs high amounts of stomach acid to unbind the calcium from the carbonate for absorption.
  • Calcium citrate contains less calcium than calcium carbonate but is more easily absorbed.

The best calcium supplement that has the highest absorption rate is ionic coral calcium. This is obtained off the coasts of Okinawa, Japan. Keep in mind that not all coral calcium supplements are ionic in nature. There are two types of coral calcium:

  1. Above sea / fossilized coral calcium – this is harvested in its natural state and easily ionizes.
  2. Below sea / marine coral calcium – this is processed (with intense heat) to purify it from heavy metals present in Japan’s oceans. It may or may not easily ionize.

Above sea coral calcium is the better coral calcium and overall better calcium supplement for the body.

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If you’re interested in reading about calcium, it’s benefits and its interactions with particular drugs, check out University of Maryland’s page about it.

For a more detailed comparison of calcium supplements, check out The Wolfe Clinic’s page about it.

2010
12/28
CATEGORY
Naturopathy
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5 comments

Better Supplementation?

Vitamins

Have you always wondered why there are so many brands for one type of supplement alone? I did – for a long time. Many supplements from different companies do the same thing for different prices. Or, at least, they’re supposed to.

Always remember: the chemistry of your body is unique to you.

This is why pharmaceutical drugs have different effects and side effects on different people. For some people, the action of the drug is stronger. In others, weaker. The same thing happens with nutraceutical supplements and remedies. For every person, there is a different effect.

Let’s say you purchased a bottle of vitamins that does wonders for you. You think it’s a great product so you recommend it to your friend but he/she doesn’t feel the same boost of energy as you do. Same purchase but different bodies. A different brand of this vitamin may be a better option, whether it be more expensive or cheaper.

If something doesn’t work for you, try a different one. You’ll know a brand is good when you hear that its product line does what it should. If it works for the greater majority, it must be of good quality and it’s more likely to work for you.

2010
12/26
CATEGORY
Naturopathy
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1 comment

Who I Am

My name is Amy. I am not a physician. I am not an expert.

I am a medical student with an intense interest and passion for C.A.M. Upon completion of my medical degree, I plan to study towards a naturopathic degree. I am not responsible for the outcomes of any advice given here. Please be sure to ask your personal physician if something is right for you before starting.

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