Calcium Supplement information

Written by John Obraza on May 5, 2008 4:42 pm

What is Calcium and why do we need it?
Today I thought I would start with the basic question, "What is Calcium?" I mean really, with today's standards of education you can't "assume" that everyone knows what you're talking about i.e. what Calcium is or where it comes from, so...

What is Calcium?
Calcium is an essential mineral for the body and is one of the most popular dietary supplements in the U.S. While sufficient calcium can be obtained exclusively from food (from dairy products primarily, but also other foods, such as calcium fortified soy milk, tofu and orange juice, and, to a lesser extent, green leafy vegetables), many people do not get the recommended daily amounts of calcium from their diet.

Many types of calcium supplements are available and in an increasing variety of delivery forms including tablets, caplets, softgels, syrups, chewable tablets, soft chewable cubes, gums, antacids, and calcium-fortified foods and juices. The most common and generally least expensive form of calcium is calcium carbonate. Other types include calcium malate, calcium citrate malate, calcium lactate and calcium gluconate.

Are you confused yet? You're not alone. Go to any "drug store" or your local Wal-Mart etc. and you will find row after row, shelf after shelf of Calcium supplements. As mentioned above the MOST Common type of Calcium used in these supplements are Calcium Carbonate. However Calcium carbonate, which is a common substance found as ROCK, yes you read that right! in all parts of the world, and is the main component of shells of marine organisms, snails, and eggshells. Calcium carbonate is the active ingredient in agricultural lime, and is usually the principal cause of hard water.

The main reason Calcium carbonate is used as the primary source of Calcium for over 99% of supplements is that it is INEXPENSIVE!!!! IT'S CHEAP!!!! THE MANUFACTURES OF THESE PRODUCTS DON'T CARE A WIT ABOUT HOW GOOD A CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT IS FOR YOU, BUT HOW MUCH MONEY IT MAKES FOR THEM!

This is why the supplement industry gets a bad name and why medical professionals are wary about recommending their usage, (that and most doctors are trained to push the latest and greatest drug, but that is another can of Vioxx all together) the lack of over site and quality control makes most consumers very wary and skeptical. You can find great information about supplements and the test results at www.consumerlab.com There is a cost for this web sites product reviews but well worth the cost to insure you're not getting screwed or worse sick from taking a "health" supplement. For example, one Calcium product tested, Doctor's Best® High Absorption Calcium, was NOT APPROVED by Consumer Lab and was found to contain 3.58 mcg LEAD per day(for 4 tablets taken). NICE!!!!! :-(

We know the highest form/source of Calcium is Calcium carbonate. And we know it's also the cheapest form of Calcium available, so why take a supplement that has this type of Calcium. The bottom line is...you shouldn't...UNLESS something is added to the calcium to increase its absorption. This is where the majority of supplement manufactures cut costs and save money to our detriment. However, some companies out there came up with a way of increasing the absorption of Calcium carbonate...some very smart folks came up with combining Calcium with Orotate acid to make Calcium Orotate.

What is An Orotate?

Orotates are the mineral salts of a natural substance called orotic acid. It is found in your body and also in dairy products. It is believed that minerals and vitamins in orotate form act as superior transporters throughout the body. When a mineral is in an orotate form, it can pass through cell membranes easily without breaking apart so it can get to where it’s needed most - joints, tissues, and cartilage.

Ok...great, so how does Calcium Orotate differ from regular calcium?

98% of the calcium in your body is found in your bones. In fact, calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body. If your bones loose more calcium than they take in, you can lose bone mass and weaken your bone structure. Calcium orotate (because of its unique molecular structure) possesses the ability to penetrate bones, cartilage, and other tissue more effectively than regular calcium to help promote the recalcification of your skeleton. This is a key point. You take calcium for one reason, receive it where it’s needed to support optimal bone health. Most traditional forms of calcium (an estimated 70 to 80%) are flushed out of your system before they can be absorbed! Calcium Orotate is different because it’s highly absorbable!

And remember boys and girls highly absorbable means...YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! So from a strict consumer viewpoint, you get your money's worth from taking a LIQUID Calcium supplement which uses an Orotate to help "deliver" the Calcium to your bones, not flushed into our water supply!

So, your Health LifeStyle solution for today is, when looking for a calcium supplement look for a liquid product which uses an orotate (calcium orotate) to transport the calcium into your bones and cells.

Better for your health, your wallet and our environment!