 | Do I really need to take a calcium supplement?
The short answer to this question is, "YES!"
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an estimated 90% of adult women don't get enough calcium in their diets. The same is true for 80% of teenage girls, 68% of teenage boys, and 73% of adult men. In addition, there is growing evidence proving significant health benefits when adequate amounts of calcium are taken daily. There is a fairly strong awareness, especially among women, that taking a calcium supplement is essential to maintaining strong, healthy bones. As we age, our bones lose calcium and become more brittle. Today, more of us are taking steps to minimize this process. The use of a calcium supplement is fundamental to preventing this demineralization of our bones, also called osteoporosis. In every major study of calcium supplementation, those who took extra calcium demonstrated either less bone loss or fewer fractures over time than the non-supplemented group. Generally adults do not consume enough calcium to equal that lost from bone, and frequently low calcium intake from childhood has left bones vulnerable.
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| | What dosage of calcium should I take?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently increased the recommended daily value for calcium to 1,000 mg. This move was due to an increasing awareness that the amount of calcium Americans currently consume each day is inadequate. The amount of calcium you should take varies with age. Here's a simplified recommended daily allowance (RDA):
Women under age 50 and Men under 65: 1200
mg of Elemental Calcium daily .
Women over age 50 and Men over 65: 1500 mg
of Elemental Calcium daily.
Younger people: 1000 mg of Elemental Calcium
daily.
Most importantly, these amounts are elemental. So you should be certain of the elemental amounts in any calcium supplement you take.
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| | Should I take more than just calcium?
Absolutely. It has been proven many times over that calcium alone is not enough to keep bones strong. It takes a variety of ingredients that work together to help you develop and maintain strong, healthy bones. Just taking calcium alone without other essential, supporting ingredients can do more harm than good.
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| | How do I know that I'm getting the right ingredients in my bone supplement?
There are several ways you can do this. First, buy a product that has elemental ingredients. Second, make sure it is complete with all of the supporting ingredients that work with calcium. Third, stay abreast of the latest research about which ingredients work in synergy to support strong bones. Finally, choose your bone supplement based upon information instead of sales hype.
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| | How long do I need to continue taking a calcium supplement?
Supplementation for bone health and strength is a long-term commitment. It is virtually impossible to get all of the needed bone support nutrients in the right amounts through diet alone.
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| | Isn't risk for bone loss just a women's problem?
Although the risk is lower and fewer numbers of men are affected by bone loss and osteoporosis, supplementation is important for them also. Men get osteoporosis, but to a far lesser extent than women. We see bone loss with age in all groups, but the loss of estrogen in women at menopause accelerates this loss in women. Men who take certain medications (such as steroids) lose significant bone strength.
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| | Won't I be able to tell if I'm losing bone density?
The answer to this question is a resounding, "NO." Bone loss and ultimately osteoporosis can silently deprive your body until much damage has been done. The only way to know for sure if you are losing bone density is to have your bone density tested. Bone loss and osteoporosis are treatable. Better yet, they can be prevented with supplementation.
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| | Can I take the full daily amount of Strong Bones in a single dose?
Your body can absorb no more than 600 milligrams of calcium at a time. If you take more than this amount, it will be flushed out of your system through your urine. For calcium to do it work in your body, you need to take it in divided doses.
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| | I take a prescription medication for osteoporosis. So, I do not need to take a calcium supplement - right?
Wrong. The more we learn about osteoporosis and how to prevent it and treat it, the more we realize that calcium supplements are essential. A recent survey of a thousand women who were taking a prescription medication to treat osteoporosis revealed that about half of these women had mistakenly stopped taking a calcium supplement. The only way to maximize bone strength is to include a calcium supplement in your daily regimen.
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| | If I take mega amounts of calcium, won't that help me rebuild bones faster?
Extra calcium is beneficial up to a certain point; however, there is no additional benefit from taking more than 2,000 milligrams per day. Those who have osteoporosis or are at high risk should take two Strong Bones pills three times per day. This will provide 1,800 milligrams of elemental calcium citrate - plus the correct amounts of magnesium, Vitamin D and all other supporting ingredients.
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