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You’ve probably heard that you need to take a calcium supplement each day - even if you are taking a multi-vitamin. This is because most people don’t get enough calcium in their diets and the multi-vitamins don’t have the recommended daily dosage of calcium in them; even though they do have other nutrients and minerals that we need.

We need calcium to keep our bones and teeth strong, but it is also needed to help our muscles contract properly, to help our blood clot, to help nerves carry messages, to keep our hearts beating properly, and to prevent diseases such as Osteoporosis. Without calcium our bodies are in big trouble!

We get some calcium from the foods we eat.  Dairy products, broccoli, rice, salmon, tuna, beans, nuts, seeds, oysters, shrimp, turnip greens, okra, other green vegetables, oranges, figs, and several other foods all contain calcium.  But again, most people don’t consume enough of these foods in a single day to get the required amount of calcium that is needed by the body, even if they are taking an additional multi-vitamin.

Most people don’t even know how much calcium they need to meet their body’s requirements. Doctors always tell us to take a calcium supplement - but they almost always fail to say how much calcium is enough, and how much is too much!

First, let’s look at how much is too much, in terms of calcium. Nobody has ever overdosed on calcium, but some people have had health problems that were caused because they were getting too much calcium - the solution was always to cut down on the calcium of course. So far, scientists and doctors agree that up to 2500 milligrams of calcium per day is perfectly safe - but you don’t even need that much.

Most health care professionals agree that if you aren’t drinking three eight ounce glasses of milk per day, you are not getting enough calcium. Babies between the ages of newborn and six months old should have at least 210 milligrams of calcium each day. From seven months to one year, they should have 270 milligrams per day. Children aged one to three years should have 500 milligrams, four to eight years should have 800 milligrams, and nine years to eighteen year olds should have 1300 milligrams.

It is vitally important that children under the age of eighteen get the calcium that they need, because this is when their bones and teeth are developing, and their bodies crave calcium!

Adults between the ages of nineteen and fifty need 1000 milligrams of calcium per day, which adults aged fifty one and over need to increase their calcium intake to 1200 milligrams per day.

If you are taking a supplement to get your daily calcium make sure you are also taking magnesium with it.  Magnesium is the transport that brings the calcium to your cells.  The ratio of magnesium to calcium should be 2:1.  In other words if you are taking 1200mg of calcium you should also be taking 600mg of magnesium for a complete solution.

 Liquid Vitamins and Life Force International  

The amount of calcium you need increases as you get older. When you were young all it took was one or two meals a day to meet the right amount, as you grew you started needing more calcium rich foods.

There will how ever, come a time when eating calcium rich foods will not get you the right amount that you need. In order to get the right amount of calcium that you need you will have to start taking supplements.

The supplements you take and the amount of them depends on your body and your calcium levels. If your calcium levels are extremely low, you may find yourself having to take supplements as many as three times a day, along with eating calcium rich foods.

The thing to do when it comes time to start taking supplements is to find out your current calcium levels, and then to find the supplement that gives you the right amount that you need. This can be hard and trying or simple and easy, it is up to you and your calcium levels.

Some people have problems that call for one type of supplement that has a small amount of calcium in it already, and so there for are not able to take some supplements otherwise they will experience the problem of too much calcium

The best thing to do when the time comes is to ask your doctor and friends what they think would be right for you, after that you simply test each one out unless your doctor has prescribed a supplement for you.

The thing to remember about taking supplements is that you can find supplements that have more then just calcium in them. By finding these types of supplements you can even cut down on some other supplements you may be taking.

Steven Godlewski - Liquid Vitamins and Life Force International

There are three different types of calcium and each type has it’s own use in your body. The different types of calcium that we take our have In our bodies all do something that is as important to us as our heart is.
The different types all come from different ways and places and are able to do their jobs without problems. The three types of calcium are:

Calcium Citrate Malate (CCM)
Calcium Citrate Malate is the most absorbable calcium available. This is made by putting calcium carbonate with citric acid and malic acid to help the increase of calcium absorption.

Calcium Carbonate
Calcium carbonate is mined from the earth and has been one of the most commonly used sources of supplemented calcium. Calcium carbonate is the most economical form of calcium and is available in a variety of tablets, capsules and chewables. It is suggested to take calcium carbonate with meals for maximum calcium absorption.

Calcium Citrate
Combines calcium with citric acid to reduce the amount of stomach acids needed for calcium absorption.

These different types of calcium are used for their own special properties. The use of each of these is safe, and most likely a healthy choice. By choosing to use these you are enabling your body to function properly and correctly.

The three different types of calcium all have an important function and are used to boost the natural calcium in your body. These types of calcium can be found in the foods you eat, the drinks you drink, and the dietary supplements you use.

Each of these has been found to improve your blood system, your muscles your bones, and your teeth. These are in the simplest form, the same as calcium with the exception that these actually help calcium do it what it needs to do in the body.

Steven Godlewski - Liquid Vitamins and Life Force International

Finding the right Supplement
Finding the supplement that is right for you can be hard. There are so many different supplements out there today that all promise to do one thing or another and when you actually try them you find that they don’t do what they say they do.

Finding a supplement that does what it says it does is hard work, but it is possible. The problem today with buying supplements is that you can never seem to find one that fits what you need.

Or you find one that does, but it ends up putting you at too much calcium. Asking friends relatives and your doctor can help you find the supplement that is right for you. A common problem with looking for supplements that are right is that you also need to be careful of supplements that give the same thing something else you are taking does.

This is usually a problem for older people, but no matter what age it can be frustrating. You have to know exactly what all you are taking and exactly how much of it you are taking, and if you can’t remember you have to carry your other supplements with you when you go to buy a new supplement.

Finding the supplement that is right for you is important to do so that you are able to get exactly what you need. By know you know what you need and you are simply trying to find a supplement that fits in with the description.

While finding a supplement that fits you may be hard, finding a place that sells supplements is not as hard. Supplements can be found at any pharmacy in your town. The pharmacist there can help you look for what you need.

So after getting everything in order and finding the supplements that don’t work you will be left with the one that you want. The supplement that is right for you.

Aches, Pains, and Calcium

As we all know, calcium is responsible for our bones teeth muscles and blood stream. What we don’t know is that some of our pains and aches at the end of the day happen because of calcium.

Calcium keeps our bones strong as long as we keep a good supply of calcium in our bodies. How ever, when we don’t take care of our bodies and our calcium levels get low, our body takes the calcium it needs right from our bones.

This can cause weak bones and the calcium is not replaced until we eat something that has a lot of calcium in it. The problem is that we usually don’t eat something to make up for the lost calcium until the next day.

When this happens our bones are weak, and suffer from stiffness, throbbing pains, and other damage causing pressure. Our muscles go through it as well. Unless we keep ourselves well fed and maintain a good calcium balance in our diets these pains will continue to occur.

Arthritis is caused by this, and it can lead to osteoporosis. Keeping your body in shape can help prevent all of these problems. When you come home from work don’t immediately plop down on the couch and turn on the TV, if you are like most people, your idea of lunch was fast food or no food.

Get a glass of milk, or something that is high in calcium, because you may be tired from work, but you will be hurting from low calcium later if you don’t. Sometimes the pains can be caused by having too much calcium.

The extra build up has to escape or be used somehow, and which ever way it chooses, the extra build up is causing pressure to nerves. Low calcium can also cause head aches, and can make your entire body hurt.

Steven Godlewski -  Liquid Vitamins and Life Force International 

Arthritis is a complex disorder that comprises more than 100 distinct conditions and can affect people at any stage of life. Two of the most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These two forms have very different causes, risk factors, and effects on the body. The most common symptom in both is persistent joint pain. The joint pain of arthritis can appear as hip pain, knee pain, hand pain, or wrist pain, as well as joint pain in other areas of the body.

For most people arthritis pain and inflammation cannot be avoided as the body ages.  Joints naturally degenerate over time. Fortunately, arthritis can be managed through a combination of vitamins, medication, exercise, rest, weight-management, nutrition, and, in some cases, surgery. Arthritis is a chronic disease that will be with you for a long time and possibly for the rest of your life. Your treatments will probably change over time and medication may be adjusted. Having a positive mental outlook and the support of family and friends will help you live with arthritis and be able to continue to perform your daily activities.

Before going any further, it is important that you remember to discuss any and all vitamins and supplements with your doctor before adding anything to your diet. Though it is not common, some vitamins and supplements can have adverse reactions with medications you may already be taking. Do not stop taking any prescribed medications without first talking to your doctor.
As an alternative to getting your RDA through diet, many people now take vitamin supplements. The following list of vitamins are known to be especially beneficial to arthritis sufferers:

Vitamin B5 - When grouped together B vitamins work at their peak, B5 specifically being good for reducing swelling.

Vitamin B3 - This vitamin reduces tissue swelling and dilates small arteries, improved grip strength and joint mobility and increasing blood flow. Note that Vitamin B3 is NOT advised for persons with high blood pressure, gout or sliver disorders.

Vitamin B6 - Another B that reduces tissue swelling. B-6 shrinks the synovial membranes that line the weight-bearing surfaces of the joints.  It thus helps to control pain and to restore mobility in the elbows, shoulders, knees and other joints.

Vitamin B12 - This vitamin aids in multiple functions. It helps with cell formation, digestion, myelin production, nerve protection.

Vitamin C - This vitamin acts as an anti-inflammatory, relieving pain, and rids the body of free radicals. In addition to reducing inflammation, vitamin C also helps form collagen, the protein “glue” that holds cells together.  Collagen is especially important in connective tissue to insure healthy ligaments, cartilage, tendons and the joints themselves.

Vitamin E - This is a strong antioxidant that protects joints from free radicals while increases joint flexibility.

Vitamin K - This vitamin assists with mineral deposit into the bone matrix.

Selenium and Zinc- The antioxidant nutrients such as selenium and zinc might also be effective because of their ability to stop free radical damage to joint linings that in turn causes the accumulation of fluids, swelling and associated pain.

Chondroitin - the key structural component in cartilage and plays an important role in the maintenance of joint cartilage.

These guidelines will help you evaluate supplements to relieve arthritis symptoms. If used under the guidance of your physician, you may find a dietary supplement to compliment your current arthritis therapy regimen. You just need the right information to help you separate potentially useful supplements from the rest.

Steven Godlewski -  Liquid Vitamins and Life Force International 

The right amount of calcium intake is a major concern today, especially for older women, who are at high risk for osteoporosis. As the most common mineral in the body, calcium is important to everyone. We depend on calcium for the development of strong bones and teeth, proper muscle action, heart health, and a functioning nervous system. Calcium also helps in maintaining the body’s acid balance, as well as in blood clotting and other processes.

Even when major symptoms like bone loss are not there, a calcium deficiency in the body can cause other problems, including muscle pains and cramps, anxiety, sleep disorders, and hyperactivity.

Do we need a better diet to stop this from happening? If we do, we should first think about making the most of the calcium that’s already given to us in our food. We know that eating a particular food is not enough after a certain age. We also need to exercise, and take vitamins that help as well. Maintaining a healthy acid balance by following a diet that consists of the right foods such as vegetables and fruits is important as well.

The diet we choose to use needs to be able to do everything that is needed. It needs to maintain a good acid level, keep calcium high, and also keep us energized to be able to take on our day.

It is also important to get a good amount of sunlight so that our body can produce Vitamin D which is used to absorb calcium from foods. People who live in the northern parts of the world need a natural vitamin D supplement such as fish liver oil during the winter months, when sunlight and outdoor activities are at a low.
Steven Godlewski -  Liquid Vitamins and Life Force International 

Most people know that calcium is important to building and maintaining strong bones, teeth, and muscles. However, many are unaware of the other important roles calcium plays in the body: it helps with digestion through the production of hormones and enzymes, helps nerves pass the messages needed to contract the heart and other muscles in the body, assists in normal blood clotting, and may help prevent high blood pressure and colon cancer.

Without a good supply of calcium, you are almost certain to end up with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes the bones to become thin and brittle. 99 percent of all the calcium in your body is located in the teeth and bones.

The remaining 1 percent is in the blood stream, this 1 percent is so important to the normal functioning of our bodily functions that your body will take away calcium from its bones to perform them if you don’t get enough in your diet.

Other causes besides poor diet also cause osteoporosis. After the age 35, your bone density decreases. This is because the body produces less estrogen and testosterone, hormones that control how fast the body uses calcium. Fewer hormones in the system mean less calcium in the bones, and end up causing greater bone loss.

Women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis after menopause because their bodies completely stop making estrogen. They also usually have thinner bones and smaller skeletons to begin with, which leaves them more vulnerable to the disease.

This does not mean how ever, that osteoporosis is a disease just for women, and this thought has not served men well. For example, doctors are more likely to educate women than men about the importance of a diet high in calcium and supplements.

They may not be so quick to give men the same instruction. Although men don’t go through menopause, they do produce fewer hormones as they age, and so are also at increased risk of developing osteoporosis.

Steven Godlewski -  Liquid Vitamins and Life Force International 

Calcium is important to having a healthy body. Your body needs it every day not just to keep your bones and teeth strong over time, but to keep your muscles and nerves working as well. It even helps your blood clot.

Most people think they are getting enough calcium everyday, but, they are not, they are actually lacking calcium. Low calcium is usually caused by not enough calcium in foods. When blood calcium levels drop too low, your body takes calcium from your bones.

It is returned to the bones from calcium supplied from the food you eat. The average person loses 400 to 500mg of calcium per day. If the food you eat is low in calcium, there may not be good amounts of calcium available in the blood to be returned to the bones to keep your bones and body strong.

Taking calcium regularly everyday is important in preventing and treating low calcium. So how much daily calcium do you need? How much do you get? Everyone has different amounts of needed calcium, but what you eat sometimes doesn’t fit the amount you need.

The foods you eat and the exercise you do all has to do with calcium. If you’re eating food with low calcium then you are taking away from your natural calcium resource and not giving it back. Calcium is in a lot of foods, and finding the types of foods isn’t hard.

There are vitamins you can take to keep your calcium levels up, but without food to help, you are only getting a small amount of the needed calcium. Calcium is used all over your body; it is used to contract your muscles, which is important because without calcium your heart would stop beating.

It is used in your bones and teeth, your blood, and the stuff that is found between cells. If your calcium was taken out you would die. Keeping a good calcium level is important. How ever, having too high of calcium is also a risk.

If you have too much calcium you could end up with severe problems. Women who are pregnant have to be careful of taking too much calcium because it could cause birth defects such as extra fingers or toes on the infant.

Steven Godlewski -  Liquid Vitamins and Life Force International

As you age your calcium needs change. You start needing more of the types of foods rich with calcium to stay strong. Recently, researchers created a new Food Pyramid for people over a certain age. It informs us that eating at least three servings of calcium-rich foods to meet the daily requirements of calcium and Vitamin D is needed for people over a certain age.

After a certain age, more calcium is needed to prevent the bone disorder called osteoporosis. This disease affects more than 28 million Americans, and 80% of that are women.

Calcium is important in keeping your bones healthy. As you age, you lose important minerals in your bones. Bones start to get thinner and break more easily. Keep your bones strong by eating calcium-rich foods, such as milk, cheese, broccoli, dried beans and peas. Orange juice is also a good source of calcium.
Vitamin D helps absorb calcium in the body. It is found in fluids and dried milk and cereal. Your body makes its own Vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight.

Take a walk or sit in the sun every day for a few minutes, several times a week. This is important in the winter when there is less sunlight. By doing this you are making sure you have enough Vitamin D to absorb calcium.

Exercise is also needed for good bone health. Take a walk or ride a bike, yoga, anything that gets you moving and out of the house. Do heavy jobs around the house that you are able to do, what ever you do, just do something that keeps you up and about for as long as you are able.
By doing all of this you are able to keep your bones muscles and blood safe and calcium healthy, and are also keeping your vitamin D levels high enough to work with your calcium absorption.

Steven Godlewski -  Liquid Vitamins and Life Force International