Re: What's the best assimilable form(s) of calcium supplement?
Username: Hveragerthi
Plant based, such as kelp and alfalfa is the best followed by acidified forms such as citrate or malate. Plant based uses proteins to bind and carry the minerals in to the body. And they provide other nutrients important for bones, such as silica. The acidified forms will not neutralize the stomach acid like the carboante, including coral. Neutralizing stomach acid will cause a host of problems.
The plant based and acidified forms also require less dosing. The reason calcium intake recommendations are so high is that most forms of calcium are so poorly absorbed. Plant based and acidiefied forms are easier to absorb and therefore require less.
Milk is a really bad choice, and is one of the leading causes of osteoporosis. This is in part due to the fact that the cassein in milk blocks calcium absorption. This is why vitmain D is added to try and compensate for this blocking action. Though the dairy industry usually uses the cheaper vitamin D2, which is biologically inactive. The highly absorbed phosphorus leads to a release of parathyroid hormone, which further breaks down bone. Then there is the protein and sugars in milk that form bone destroying acids. This is why the US has the highest osteoporosis rate and is the largest consumer of milk in the world. This is followed by Finland, who has the second highest osteoporosis rate, and is the second largest consumer of milk in the world.
By the way chocolate milk is even worse since the chocolate contains oxalic acid, which binds calcium in to an insoluble salt.
Coral should also be avoided. This is primarily calcium carbonate. As fish respirate they release CO2, which binds to calcium creating calcium carbonate. The polyps (small animals) that form coral extract this calcium carbonate and use it to cement themselves to a hard surface. New polyps grow on top of dead polyps allowing the coral to grow. Carbonates neutralize your stomach acid though leading to a host of problems. These include acid reflux, infections, inability to digest proteins, inability to absorb minerals and some B vitmains like B6, B2 an and folate, and further reduction of stomach acid due to tha lack of absorption of zinc and B vitamins needed to synthesize stomach acid.
Keep in mind that calcium will not build bones on its own. In fact silica is the most important nutrient for bones, followed by vitamin C, sulfur, and boron. Then comes calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, strontium, fluoride, manganese, vitamins A,D, E and K, and essential fatty acids.
As a final note people are consuming way too much calcium without realizing the adverse effects. These include high blood pressure, muscle spasms, heart arrhythmias, restless leg syndrome, and constipation to name a few. This is because calcium is a muscle contractor, and magnesium is a muscle relaxant. Calcium should NEVER be taken without sufficient magnesium, which should also be in an acidified form.