The Truth About Calcium

Calcium is among the most talked about and commercially available nutrients in North America. It (or something posing as it) is added to many processed foods and beverages. It's even in our toothpaste. There are many Calcium products on the market and a sea of information concerning the need for dietary Calcium intake.

So, why are there so many problems (e.g. Osteoporosis) that are purported to be associated with a Calcium deficiency? Are we not getting enough? Yes, in a way. Though, it's more likely we are not getting enough of the right form of Calcium: true elemental Calcium in an readily assimilable form. And, perhaps we may be getting too much of the wrong kind of Calcium.

Most of the so-called Calcium on the market is not elemental Calcium that is found in healthy plants and fresh, natural sources of water. Most Calcium products and Calcium-containing processed foods use a hard-to-digest Calcium compound.

Calcium compounds are identified by the term Calcium with another word immediately following it. For example, both Calcium Carbonate and Calcium Citrate are Calcium-containing compounds. Compounds can be difficult or nearly impossible for the body to breakdown for use to any significant degree. Among the worst are Calcium Carbonate and the recently popular Coral Calcium. Calcium Carbonate is used as chalk and for making concrete, and is more suitable for lawncare than healthcare. Are we supposed to eat rocks, metals, or coral? Not likely.

Some manufacturers and medical professionals must believe that we are meant to consume metals and rocks in the exact form in which they are mined from the earth. However, even plants rely on microbes in the soil to pre-digest (breakdown mineral compounds) before they uptake them. Does it seem logical for us to eat rock dust, metal powder, or ground coral (Coral Calcium)?

Nutrients need to be in a size and form that can easily move in and out of our cells. Many popular mineral-compound supplements contain rock and metal powders in which any given particle can be thousands of times larger than a human cell, and difficult to breakdown to be of any significant use. Could these large particles buildup and cause health problems? Perhaps. This is cleary demonstrated in heavy metal toxicity.

Calcium is best when it is acquired from mineral rich plants and natural water sources. However, due to over-farming, excessive food processing, polution, and other demineralization and environmental problems and conditions, it's difficult to be certain that adequate amounts of Calcium and other minerals can be obtained in the modern diet. Therefore, supplementation with elemental, ionic mineral supplements may be necessary.

Calcium is important. Though, more importantly, one should be sure to supplement with true, elemental Calcium.

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