Chances are, when your doctor discussed osteoporosis or osteopenia with you, he or she said to take calcium. Some doctors will actually prescribe it in large doses, and more often than not, their recommendation is for calcium carbonate.
What the medical community is missing here is that this type of calcium is poorly absorbed and can even cause health issues, including increased risk of heart attack.
In fact, you could be taking a high dosage of doctor-recommended calcium every day and still be calcium-deficient – especially if your diet is low in calcium-rich foods or if you rely on dairy products for your calcium intake.
So how do you know if you are calcium-deficient?
That’s what we’re going to talk about today. We’ll take a look at three common problems that are caused by calcium deficiency. Sadly, they are usually treated with prescription drugs, drastic changes in diet, or other unnecessary interventions.
We’re also going to explore a revelatory study that clearly demonstrates how poorly several forms of calcium supplements are absorbed.
Confirmed By Canadian Study: Most Common Forms Of Calcium Are Barely Absorbed!
Calcium, an inorganic metallic element, can be bound to organic and inorganic compounds.
Inorganic calcium compounds, such as calcium carbonate, dolomite, coral calcium, oyster shell calcium, and calcium phosphate, are mineral-derived forms that vary in solubility and absorption. While these forms contain the same elemental calcium found in bones, some—especially poorly soluble forms like calcium carbonate—may not be easily absorbed and, in excessive amounts, can accumulate in soft tissues and arteries.
Calcium can also be bound to organic molecules, forming compounds such as calcium citrate, calcium lactate, calcium gluconate, and calcium ascorbate. These forms tend to have better solubility and bioavailability compared to many inorganic salts.
In contrast, plant-based calcium refers to calcium that has been incorporated into plant tissues. Plants absorb inorganic calcium from the soil and bind it within their biological matrix alongside other nutrients. This naturally occurring plant-bound calcium is often accompanied by cofactors like magnesium, vitamin K, and phytonutrients, which may enhance its absorption and utilization by the body.
While calcium from inorganic minerals, organic acid salts, and plant sources all contain the same elemental calcium, their effects on the body differ depending on solubility, accompanying compounds, and overall bioavailability.
For this study, researchers divided 60 people into four groups of 15 each. Each group was given either two forms of calcium amino acid chelate, dicalcium malate, or calcium carbonate for five weeks.
The study reports that,
“It was observed that supplementation with different calcium preparations led to different serum concentrations suggesting a difference in absorption” 1
While “all the Supplements had a poor bioavailability” 1 according to the study, the researchers noted that dicalcium malate had a better absorption than the other three types of calcium, and calcium carbonate was hardly absorbed at all.
In other words, what kind of calcium you ingest really matters!
What About Milk?
You may be wondering – if getting calcium from food is optimal, what’s wrong with milk and dairy products? In fact, your doctor may have told you to “drink plenty of milk,” like mine did.
Here’s the problem with dairy products: they are so highly acidifying that they actually result in a net loss of calcium. In addition, cow’s milk contains somatic cells, antibiotic residue, pesticides, and growth hormone even if it’s not added by the dairy farmer (it is naturally present in milk to aid in the growth of calves).
The exception to this is calcium-rich, plain, organic yogurt, which is actually alkalizing due to the fermentation process and the presence of healthful bacteria.
So given all this information about types of calcium and so forth, how can you know if you’re getting enough? Let’s take a look at some of the health issues associated with calcium deficiency.
3 Significant Health Issues Caused By A Calcium Deficiency
Most of the following health issues are treated with drugs of some nature. Yet a lack of calcium may in fact be the culprit.
1. Sleep Problems
If you’ve ever suffered from insomnia, you know how unpleasant it can be. And all that tossing and turning is made even worse when you consider how vital sleep is for your bone health. In fact, animal studies have shown that a lack of sleep actually prevents the formation of new bone. Of course, without sufficient calcium, this problem would be compounded.
Calcium is, in fact, directly related to your sleep cycle. Calcium levels rise and fall as you sleep, with higher levels occurring during deep sleep. The inability to achieve deep sleep is related to calcium deficiency, a study concluded. They found that normal sleep cycles were restored when calcium levels were increased to normal. 2
This is probably due in part to calcium’s role in the manufacture of the sleep hormone, melatonin. In fact, calcium uses tryptophan, an amino acid found in foods like turkey and cheese to manufacture this hormone.
Yet if you seek medical advice about your insomnia, you’ll likely walk out of the doctor’s office with a prescription for sleeping pills.
2. Difficulty Losing Weight
The inability to lose weight – another frustrating issue – has been linked to a lack of calcium. According to animal and human studies, the calcium stored in fat cells helps regulate the processing and storage of fat in the body. Fat cells that contain the most calcium actually burn more fat, leading to weight loss. 3
Of course, you can’t simply add calcium on to a high-calorie diet and expect weight loss. But if you have trouble shedding pounds, extra calcium-rich foods in addition to your lower calorie diet could be of great benefit.
3. Paresthesia
Here is a health issue you may not have heard of, but might have experienced.
Paresthesia is considered a symptom of a nervous system that is not functioning properly, and it is also a symptom of calcium deficiency. It manifests as tingling, numbness, muscle tremors, and/or an impaired sense of touch. Low calcium in the blood has been connected to neurological and physical impairment, leading to confusion, poor memory, hallucinations, and muscle tremors and twitches.
In a report by Dr. Aliya Khan, published in the Canadian Family Physician, people with hypocalcemia (or calcium deficiency) present with paresthesia among their symptoms. 4
Choosing The Right Calcium – What About Supplements?
The science is clear: the kind of calcium you ingest is of utmost importance to your bone health.
Obtaining as much calcium as possible from foods is optimal, but it’s understandable that maintaining a high enough daily dose with foods alone is nearly impossible. So turning to supplements makes sense.
However, it’s crucial that the supplement you choose be bioavailable and easily absorbed. It should also be a fairly low dose, so you are not taking in more calcium than you can absorb. After all, high doses are not necessary if the maximum amount of calcium is being taken up by your system.
TrueOsteo Is The Answer To The Calcium Supplement Dilemma
Many in the Saver community are aware that I recommend TrueOsteo, and for many important reasons.
In addition, because no mineral or vitamin works in isolation, a good calcium supplement should contain nutrients besides calcium, including important trace minerals and vitamins D3 and K2.
TrueOsteo meets this criteria and more. It contains an algae-based form of calcium that is readily used by the body.
And you only have to take 4 capsules a day – 2 in the morning, and 2 in the evening. This leaves lots of “wiggle room” as well, so you can reduce your dosage easily if you so choose.
And there’s a special offer exclusively for Savers: simply enter the coupon code SAVEOURBONES at checkout, and receive 20% off your order.
And if you are not happy with TrueOsteo, you can return the unused portion for a full refund.
Exclusive 20% OFF TrueOsteo Coupon Code for Save Our Bones Readers!
Use coupon code: SAVEOURBONES at checkout to get 20% off your order!
I invite you to click here to learn more about TrueOsteo.
**Please note that, according to the manufacturer, TrueOsteo only ships to the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
Till next time,
References
1 Chaturvehdi P. et al. “Comparison Of Calcium Absorption From Various Calcium-Containing Products In Healthy Human Adults: A Bioavailability Study.” The FASEB Journal. 2006;20:A1063-A1064. Web. Abstract: https://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/20/5/A1063-c . Complete study: https://www.alternative-therapies.com/resources/posters/pdfs/poster_albion.pdf
2 Breakthroughs, Nutrition. “Insomnia: Studies Suggest Calcium And Magnesium Effective.” Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 8 Sep. 2009. Web. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/163169.php
3 Zemel, Michael B., PhD. “Role of calcium and dairy products in energy partitioning and weight management.” American Society for Clinical Nutrition. May 2004. Vol. 79 no. 5. 9075-9125. Web. https://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/79/5/907S.full
4 Khan, Aliya, MD. “Hypocalcemia: Updates in diagnosis and management for primary care.” Canadian Family Physician. February 2012. Vol 58 no. 2 pp 158-162. Web. https://www.cfp.ca/content/58/2/158.full
I get weaker and feel a little bit hazy after my workouts. Also when I used to lift heavy weights(w.r.t. age, BMI) , my muscle begans to vibrate. Is it the quest of weakened muscle or Bone Density?
I have been using TrueOsteo for some time now and have been very pleased; however, the cost has increased dramatically this year and I can no longer afford to purchase it.
Vivian, is there another brand you might suggest? Thank you.
the article fails to mention the role of vitamin K2 in relation to calcium. please update
The role of Vitamin K2 is indeed important, Jay – you’ll find quite a few posts on that topic on this site. Here is one to get you started:
https://saveourbones.com/vitamin-k-osteoporosis/
This article will not help us “save our bones.” Take for instance, drinking milk will NOT lead to decalcification of the bones. The one HUGE flaw with that argument is that the researchers acted on a flawed premise that a change in urine pH after drinking milk MUST mean that the metabolic pH changed which, in turn, leads to the excretion of calcium from our bones. This is not the case…eating foods high or low in pH WILL change the pH of our urine, but it will NOT change the pH of the blood in our body. Our bodies have a complex buffer system that prevents this very thing.
In short, drinking milk, or any mildly acidic product for that matter, will not cause metabolic acidosis unless if you have serious medical issues (such as diabetes).
A factual study can be found here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22081694.
Thank you for perpetuating false information, SaveInstitute.
I have prblm in back pain ( l1 s5)… I want calcium teb
Hy iam suffering from serious disease of period problem which are over from normal days .my doctor suggest me ca with vitamind 3
Hi..I have bone pain for few months specially knees and ankle joints.I have been breast feeding my baby for 2 years.my calcium blood test went normal.do I need to do bone calcium test
Have you tried bone broth? https://theonlywayproductions.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/how-to-make-bone-broth-healthiest.html
Definitely worth a try.
Hii .. I m a MO
I hv renal problm bt also joit pain n numbness on sitting n muscle crumps I think its ca++ deficiency
Cn anyone suggest me for solve this.???
Thnc
From sharing your view above I also believe I have calcium deficiency Plz what is the normal calcium level in the body
The figure of calcium in human is 70… It should be above then 70 or 70 nor less then it.. May it cause more deficiency if it iss less then 70
Hi Doctor, Thank you for sharing such a wonderful information. My mother is suffering from. Pemphigus vulgaris.She took steroids for almost two years through IV under doctor’s observation. It caused some other issues as well like headache, hair problem, low eye sights and weak bones. All issues are covered now but she is suffering from bones pain specially Ribs pain. Which seems symptoms of calcium deficiency or hypocalcemia. Now please suggest the correct diet and treaent for her as she is dying with Ribs pain. Thanks
I am very sorry to hear about your mother’s suffering, Musheer. She is lucky to have a son who is researching on her behalf, however! Steroids do in fact destroy bone; a pH-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables is her best bet for rebuilding her bones after such extensive steroid use.
Mam my father is having calcium deficiency their calcium level is 23 will you kindly tell me what should they do to overtake this deficiency… And kindly tell me what they should take in their diet…
I have lost my calcium with masterbation or hand practice tell me how to restore it?And how I increase height?
now a days i m very much like eating soil, is this low calciam problem?
Thanks doctor i got the real picture how is my mother’s condition is now.may your God give you more
Greetings to all. Am new here but think I have this calcium deficiency which comprises of;lack of sleep, numbness, muscle tremor especially muscle pull all over the body. Pls I need ur help. THANKS
You may check the vitamin -D levels and Vitamin B12 levels which are interlinked with the issues you have mentioned.
hi
iam sufferring from calcium deficiency due to this iam unable to sleep.there is a some kind of pain in joints of legs.so please give me some solution to this kind of problem.
Kindly let us know the solution to bone deficiency. Am a victim
the richest calcium foods are sesame seeds,green leafy vegetables ,milk and fiber fruits… others i’ll tell if i’ll remember…..
I’m concerned about the many brands of nondairy milks that use carrageenan. This additive is regarded in some quarters as causing inflammation and a possible carcinogen. Can you please address this. Thanks.
Hi. May i know what form of calcium is used within the pills (Calcium carbonate/Calcium orotate)? And can this supplement be effective to treat hypocalcemia?
Does greek yogurt have more organic calcium than normal yogurt?
Hi Luke,
The calcium content of both Greek and plain yogurt will vary from brand to brand, but generally speaking, some calcium is lost through the whey-straining process of Greek yogurt. So regular yogurt tends to have more calcium than Greek.
I wonder if someone can testify to an improve bone density taking this calcium.
My wife is suffering from body pain at back, knee etc., She has pain and we find small swelling at the places where the pain is severe. On applying pain reliving ointments etc, pain reduces, but pain start in some other place!
Well doctors after analyzing says it is due to Vitamin , Calcium deficiency. I am not satisfied with this answer. Kindly advise if she takes calcium tablets, will she be alright and relieved from such pains. Her age is 58.
Thank you
Awaiting reply
I am very sorry to hear that your wife is experiencing pain! I can’t tell you definitively if calcium supplements will relieve her pain; there are just too many individual variables (and types of supplements). I can tell you that an organic, plant-based calcium will be more readily absorbed into her system, and that magnesium is also a supplement to consider.
I wish your wife a speedy recovery!
I have been using TrueOsteo for some time now and have been very pleased; however, the cost has increased dramatically this year and I can no longer afford to purchase it.
Vivian, is there another brand you might suggest? Thank you.
Have the doctor check to see if your wife is vitamin D insufficient,and also calcium insufficient.I too suffer from this form of pain you mentioned.Mr Dr put me on vit D as well as calculus supplements. Which is castrate 600.D.this works well for me.
Please Excuse the typos.
I got to know how to maintain calcium level in our body
I’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis and eat a diet rich in calcium, from almonds, sunflower seeds, oats and vegetables, which also contain vitamin D and magnesium. Also have soya yogurt, almond milk and soya milk. I was advised by a nephrologist a few years back when I had been diagnosed with kidney inflammation and put on steroids that the Vitamin D and calcium supplement I was taking was not benefiting my bones at all (my blood levels of calcium were too high). I now take cod liver oil along with the calcium rich diet. I don’t think everybody benefits from calcium supplements, maybe some do. Otherwise I follow all the helpful advice you give, including the exercises and so far have not had any symptoms from the osteoporosis, am able to run, walk, circuit train, go to the gym and take part in regular dancing and aerobics. At my last DEXA scan there was a small improvement. Thanks for your helpful guidance. Anne
Anne, I am overjoyed to hear this! The holidays have been very busy and I am catching up on what is happening with the community. 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing your good news with everyone!
Make sure you take vitamin K. It will eventually help lower the high blood calcium unless you have parathyroid problem. I also changed to distilled water last December as our city water has excessive calcium added. Also ADDED TrueOsteo….. can you believe i broke my 5 year record of high blood calcium by dropping down to 9.3 –10% less than it has been. I feel so much better since it is down. It sound paradoxial but there it is. Thanks to Vivian’s news. I have had one blood test but am so encouraged.
Hi, does it cause constipation?
I have a product that has calcium carbonate from eggshell. Is that an acceptable form?
Dale, eggshells are calcium citrate, which is not organic.
Hi Vivian
I am Coeliac and would like to know if there have been other coeliacs on your programme that have successfully increased their bone density. I eat really well and find that I can’t take supplements, I’m on no medication and I’m 70. My bone density score is -3.00. Help!
Love reading your emails, lots of interesting information.
Regards Liz
Interesting information about calcium deficiency, but is this the only factor affecting sleep and muscle tremor, and confusion?
Those issues can be affected by many factors, Shula. Calcium deficiency is simply one thing to consider that many medical professionals do not think of. 🙂
What do you think about non-invasive ultrasound, BeamMed, instead of a Dexa scane?
Thanks
Hi Vivian, I just found out that I’m lie in vitamin D. The doctor prescribed D2. Which I think you said is not good. I ordered true osteo. Should I supplement it with more vitamin D and if so how much more. What other vitamin should I be taking. I have compression fractures and rib fractures plus psoriatic arthritis. Could you please respond. I do not want to go on drugs. Thank you Cathy
I switched from TrueOsteo to calcium from algae by New Chapter, called Bone Strength. Also contains D3, K1, K2, a little Magnesium, 5 mg Strontium from algae, Silicon and Vanadium from algae. Total Calcium is 770, a little more than TrueOsteo. Any thoughts?
My natropath has recently prescribed CalApatite which contains MCHC and to take extra magnesium and extra Vitamin D (4000 units) and Vitamin C (3000mg). Is this a good source of calcium? I tried an algae source, but it caused stomach upset.
I have recently read of organic calcium , K2 , D3 ,collagen chelate and plum extract a product called KoAct. Life Extension has a product called Bone Strength Formula.
How does this compare with TrueOsteo which I presently am taking?
I would be interested to know your opinion.
Thank you
Kay
My bone density is now -3.0 with greatest loss of bone in spine while my hip is gaining bone. I really don’t understand osteoporosis. I was taking Bone-In but I am not very diligent with supplementation pills of any kind. I do drink milk, east yogurt, love cheeses my whole life. I am not sedentary, nor do I want to be. My GP & dentist (I have advanced periodontal disease for the last 26 yrs but is being maintained) both are strongly encouraging me to take Replast before Christmas. I have been looking into yoga before this massive push to medicate. I truly don’t know what to do, as Reclast can cause jaw bone issues & damage kidneys!!! Any comments for me?
Keep taking dairy products for calcium intake, organic as much as possible, BUT combine them with magnesium and Vitamin D for absorption. Minerals work in harmony in the body and never alone. Stay far from satanic yoga… be a good Catholic. Cheers. Joseph.
Yoga? What’s “satanic” about yoga??
Yoga is an ancient Hindu practice, they believed that certain body positions while performing Yoga opens you up to spirits. But they are actually demonic spirits masquerading as something good. Be careful, take care and God Bless
That is pure nonsense.
A. There is no “Satan” in my opinion and that of most non-fundamentalist folks.
B. Yoga is just one of many forms of breathing and posture aides to medication or stress relief. Any “religious” nature has been added to the basic healthy benefits found empirically over many years.
Is TrueOsteo gluten free?
I have been taking TrueOsteo for about two years. I take two capsules/day seeing I eat plain organic yogurt, kefir, use almond milk, etc for more calcium. I just read this article about 3 signs of calcium deficiency and realize that I have been showing signs of this…insomnia, and paresthesia( which I never heard of)…tingling, numbness, hand tremors, and my eye has beginning to twitch sometimes. If this is because of lack of calcium absorption, what should I do?
Your body might not be absorbing all of that calcium. You didn’t mention magnesium. Try adding 3 capsules of magnesium malate before bed and those symptoms should disappear.
I have tried various types of calcium and keep coming back to Enerex Osteo Cal-Mag
with BambooSilica, Boron, D3, K2, Raw Kale.. It costs $46.00 Cnd and there are 180 soft capsules in a jar. I take 2 per day and don’t have too many aches and pains. Has anybody else tried it?
What type of calcium is the Enerex Osteo Cal-Mag?
Karen the calcium is HVP CHELATE 500MG PER TABLET
100MG ELEMENTAL CALCIUM the health food store recommended this for me. Hope it helps.
The exercises and foods you recommend for bone health, are very helpful. Your supplement promotions and endorsements, on the other hand, are a crapshoot.
You have stated that the manufacturers of TrueOsteo “found” you. The truth of the matter is, TrueOsteo manufacturers recognize that a large community of people TRUST your views and opinions, so they TARGETED you. Sale of supplements is a very convoluted and lucrative business, and you have obviously decided to get a piece of this pie.
The problem is, you choose not to do due diligence and rigorously scrutinize claims made by supplement manufacturers, before accepting endorsement revenues and undertaking product promotion.
You like to quote chapter and verse from studies disproving osteoporosis drugs.
It is therefore irresponsible and hypocritical when you choose not to take steps to lay the facts bare, when it comes to endorsing products for which you are receiving revenues.
I have made the comment before, and I will make it again – when money is part of the equation, your viewpoint is biased and your opinions cannot be trusted.
When people read your supplement product promotions, they should keep in mind –
– supplements and supplement manufacturers are not regulated by any authority;
– there are no stringent quality guidelines in place;
– no penalties are imposed for sale of sub-standard products;
– no one challenges claims made by supplement manufacturers;
– this means supplement manufacturers are self-regulated, which is never a good idea for obvious reasons;
– product quality will always be in question when manufacturers are allowed to police themselves.
Over the years, lots of us have hounded Vivian for a recommendation for what calcium to take and I believe she has researched this to try to give us some advice on this. I think we should appreciate her for doing this. It is only a recommendation, we don’t have to buy it if we don’t want to. Her information is very helpful!
Well said!! With all the research she brings us it is hard imagine that she does not believe this is the best product out there or else she would recommend something else. It is her website. We all take what we want from it. Personally i am very encouraged by her information. Some bloggers write instead of READ what the article says, for goodness sake!
Interesting that jvh mentions that “supplement manufacturers are not regulated by any authority”, etc… Well, prescription drugs are regulated and what happens? Hundreds of thousands of people end up in the emergency room because of those drugs that are “regulated”… some never recover. Bisphosphonates are “regulated” too, and they cause awful side effects. Just sayin’, so we all keep things in perspective…
I was surprised to see Strontium as one of minerals in the calcium that Vivian is recommending. She has written that strontium makes bones thicker not stronger and should not be taken. Confusing to say the least. I too hate all the promotions on her website and whenever I tell someone they should check out this site it’s with the warning about just that. I know she has to make a living, but I hope it’s not at the risk of her reader’s health and pocketbooks.
I see that you did not get any reply from Vivian. I do not know whom to trust at this point. I tried True Osteo for 3 months, my DEXA says it is getting worse. IS it because I did not try True Osteo longer or because it dies not work ? Tough question.
One product alone will not likely build bones. Vivian recommends a program of food, supplements, including TruOsteo, and EXERCISE. Most likely bone will not rebuild unless you do weight bearing exercise. People demand full disclosure from Vivian yet do not even understand the whole picture she recommends. If you don’t like the product dont use it. Use what you want. But do the exercise or you most likely will not get the results. One year is usually how often DEXA tests are given. That tells us it takes time to change bone structure. 3 months is unrealistic. Hang in there and go for the full program!
JVH,, bless you my friend for being bold and speaking the truth despite the 95% of the people that are so arrogant it’s unbelievable..
I say do the research you’ll be surprised..
Better yet follow the money…
I take Ultimate Bone Support (Advanced Bionutritionals) a total of 2 tabs a day. Main ingredient is Strontium 250 mg. I just started so I can’t really tell if it is better to take this supplement than Calcium prep. Hope someone can give me an input on this.
Thanks…
Fina, I was taking a Strontium supplement and then my hip bones began to hurt. Then I found out that Strontium actually works the same way the bio phosphates do, they will make your bones brittle and prevent re-modeling, it was also causing diarrhea. I stopped taking it and after a few weeks the pains in my hip went away (and the diarrhea went away the next day or two). I was also taking the microcrystalline hydroxyapatite form of calcium and began to have arthritic symptoms. In fact the doctor said it was early onset arthritis. However, I read where too much calcium can cause these symptoms so I changed to New Chapter Bone Strength Take Care which is a plant based Non-GMO verified formula with TargetCal and the arthritic symptoms went away. Hope this helps someone.
Thanks for your input, Valli.
Here’s a link that I just got through reading regarding Strontium…
https://saveourbones.com/strontium-blood-clot-risk-confirmed-by-new-study/
It seems like 250mg a day might be too much. Also, this supplement needs to be taken in between meals and not with other medications. ..
hi Valli, Is New Chapter Bone Strength Take Care contain calcium? Can u pse give me its composition and where I can get it. In fact my calcium test is 10.3mg/dl (the recerence being 8.5 – 10.1 and it seems I am above). one Dr told me not to take calcium and another not to take. I am taking 2 TrueOsteo/day and I wanted to stop it to order Ultimate Bone Support with stronium. Now I dont know what to do. Can I have your coments pse thks
I also take Bone Strength and am wondering how it compares to the one Vivian recommends.
I have been taking True Osteo, but my doctor recently told me NOT to take calcium. He referred to a study that linked it to heart problems. Do you have any information on this?
The heart problems associated with calcium supplements is from the type of calcium that comes from “rocks.” TrueOsteo is from plants, I believe, so there is not that danger. [Vivian has that information somewhere on her website I think… Or TrueOsteo might have it.] That’s my understanding, but you can check for it too.
HTH! Suzy
Or is it because it causes a magnesium deficiency? It is very difficult to get enough mag from diet and most need more mag than cal.
I have trouble with the algae calcium it upsets my stomach even if I take with food.
What is the next best calcium supplement.I take BONE-UP by Jarrow .The calcium is
elemental form StimCal Microcrystalline Hydroxyapatite.
Thank you for any information .
Anna Kidd
I use Bone-up by Jarrow to, but I only take 4 a day!
2 in the morning & 2 mid-afternoon.
HOW MANY PILLS ARE IN THE BOTTLE, IS THAT JUST A ONE MONTH SUPPLY FOR
49.00 THATS AN EXPENSIVE CALCIUM
It is an expensive supplement. I think there are 120 pills in the bottle, but you’re meant to take 4 per day, so that’s one month. However, I found that taking only two per day made me *seriously* constipated. I dropped back to one per day, and even that wasn’t enough — still constipated. I had to stop taking it. Bummer. It surprised me since it’s made from a plant! I never expected that side-effect! [But that’s just my experience. Others don’t seem to have that problem.]
That’s been my experience too Suzy, so stopped taking it and haven’t replaced it with anything else.
Sounds like it caused magnesium deficiency.
TrueOsteo appears not to be vegetarian. It contains gelatin. I take AlgaeCal Plus distributed by AlgaeCal Inc. which is vegetarian and contains almost the identical ingredients. Thank you for all the great info and exercises that you have on your website.
I also take AlgaeCal Plus. It is reasonably priced and contains mostly the same ingredients as TrueOsteo. I can buy 6 bottles for about $157 which includes shipping. I feel I have benefitted from this product. I had soreness in my lower vertebrae early in the year, but since I have been taking AlgaeCal, this soreness has been greatly reduced.
I also have been taking Algae Cal Plus for the last year. I am also curious what the difference between it and Trueosteo are?
Sadly, it seems there is as much confusion here as ever.
I would like to see some discussion on Microcrystalline Hydroxyapatite (MCHC) – this is a helluva lot cheaper than the recommended product – and the Jarrow and M2M brands I take contain many additional typically recommended micro-nutrients.
I would also like to know what sort of commission is made by Save Our Bones when purchases are made through this site. That is obviously critical information.
Dear Vivian, tks for all the info. I am in red wt osteoporosis and my
calcium – serum test (Arsenazo-lll Dye Binding) is 10.3 mg/dL.
the reference interval being 8.5 -10.1
Is my calcium level ok or not pse?
one doctor told me to take calcium,and I have ordered TrueOsteo which I will recv next week.So how many shud I take per per day pse? tks very much
I make yogurt, milk kefir and water keir and consume these daily. Hope this will help my problem of PPP. Isn’t most of the calcium and lactose taken out of these products by fermentation?
I think I will go back to using Osteo calcium…I used it in the past but I was always wondering if the magnesium in it met all the requirements? Can I take this without extra magnesium being they always say that it should be half the calcium quantity. That’s always confused me.
Mary Kay, what I do is take a multivitamin that contains magnesium along with the TrueOsteo. 🙂 It’s impossible to find one supplement that contains all the Foundation Supplements!
Can you tell me the brand name of the multivitamin supplement you take?
Kathy, I am not recommending any particular brand of multivitamin right now…to tell the truth, I am still searching for the “perfect” multivitamin. When I find it, I will make sure and let the community know!
After which age Women Bones Get Week.
Vivian, have you seen “The Garden of Life, Vitamin Code Raw Calcium”?? It does contain Magnesium, in fact it contains twice the amount of calcium to magnesium, has K2, D3 and a couple of other pertinent minerals/vitamins and it is vegan, plant based and raw, therefore very easily absorbed from what i can tell… It is also reasonably priced, at around 30 dollars depending on where you buy it for a months supply… I am very pleased with it myself…
I’ve been using this Garden of Life Raw Calcium for years and buy it online for about $25 per month by subscribing to automatic deliveries.
I use almond milk with my cereal and tea, but I wonder about the added calcium carbonate in it. Is this enough to cause any problems?
Laura, your body is able to process small amounts of calcium carbonate like those found in almond milk. Calcium carbonate is a concern when it’s taken in large doses. 🙂
Does plain Greek yogurt fall under the category of plain yogurt?
It certainly does. I enjoy both regular and Greek nonfat plain yogurts. Like to add alkalizing nuts and fruits for lunch. Enjoy!
I have ordered several times from TrueOsteo but living inUK not only do I have to pay high shipping cost but also import duty. You used to recommend AlgaeCal which is cheaper to import. Would you mind telling me why you changed and what is the difference between the two.
I compared the list of ingredients in AlgaeCal vs. TrueOsteo a few years ago when Vivian started recommending TrueOsteo. I even called the makers of TrueOsteo and verified that the organic calcium preparation was the same. TrueOsteo would be cheaper for me but I thought that the AlgaeCal looked like a better and more complete bone health supplement. So, I decided to continue with the AlgaeCal.
Thanks Polly for your information about TrueOsteo vs. AlgaeCal. I live in England and as Margaret explains, the cost of shipping and import duty makes TrueOsteo far too expensive. The AlgaeCal supplement looks like being my best option.
Hi group,
In the list of ingredients for TrueOsteo I see that gelatin is included. Is there an equivalent vegan preparation? For many reasons I choose not to eat animals.
Thanks!
Laura,
Source of Life has a vegan, organic AlgaeCal calcium called Nature’s Plus Garden Calcium whole food calcium and magnesium. It is more expensive than the one Vivian is recommending. It doesn’t have in it K2 or D3. It is $53 for 120 capsules. I get it at the Vitamin Shoppe.
Norma
Is that a one month supply then (4 capsules/day?)
I’ve been using the water distiller that Vivien recommended for about 2 years now. I am very glad to get all the ‘junk’ out of the water I drink. I’ve been reading here and there how distilled water is considered dead water. I’ve been adding a metal cylinder containing minerals to the jugs of water to get back some trace minerals. I’ve also been adding a tiny bit of baking soda to the water. Am I doing the right thing? Is there anything else I should be adding to the distilled water?
I have been drinking purified water from our Natural Foods Coop. It is sold in bulk–fill your own bottles. In the last few months, I have added Essentia water that is guaranteed to have a ph of 9.5 or higher. However, it does come in plastic, non-BPA, bottles.
Well…
There has been very recently a publication in the BMJ about a study involving more than 100.000 people from Sweden.
It seems that if milk is problematic for women (much more than for men), dairy products (other than milk) are really good against osteoporosis and against general mortality.
For yout attention…
Luke, are you speaking of other dairy products like plain yogurt, or cheese, or did they specify?