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How to Take Calcium VitaminsMost Americans do not include calcium vitamins in their diets, nor do they compensate for the lack thereof. Even though calcium is the most prevalent mineral in our body, the average American's daily intake is only about half of the body's daily calcium requirement. Investing in a calcium-rich diet is not easy. However, deficiencies can be prevented by taking calcium vitamins. The commonest kinds of calcium vitamins available today are calcium lactate, calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, calcium phosphate, calcium citrate malate and calcium gluconate. When choosing calcium vitamins, determine the elemental calcium content in your supplement. Calcium carbonate will supply the most at about 40 percent; gluconate provides only 9 percent. The lesser the elemental calcium in your calcium vitamin, the more you will need to take to meet your daily requirement. The National Academy of Sciences is the governing body that provides the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for vitamins. They have recently increased the RDAs for calcium to 1,000 mg for adults between 19 and 50 years of age, and 1,200 mg for those over 50. We can safely consume as much as 2,500 mg. However, taking excess calcium vitamins could affect the body's ability to absorb other critical nutrients like magnesium, iron and zinc. Calcium vitamins may also interact with prescribed medications. Talk to your doctor before taking calcium supplementation. Also Read: |