Why Calcium Works
Whilst it is well known that that babies and children need calcium for the building of bones, it is also needed in order to maintain them. There calcium, when combined with other essential minerals, gives the bones the strength that they need. Just about all of the calcium, 99 percent in fact, that you will find in the body will be found within the bones. The other one percent is actually dissolved within the blood and many other types of fluid within the body. This one percent is responsible for the proper functioning of the blood, heart, nerves and muscles.

Even though the bones need so much calcium, the body cannot make it so you have to make sure that you are getting the right amount of calcium through your daily diet. You want to increase your bone mass. When you do this, through the proper intake of calcium, you will find that you are less likely to loss too much bone mass during times of menopause, which is typically when many women find themselves facing osteoporosis. The more calcium and weight bearing exercise you have during your younger years, the better odds you will have at avoiding osteoporosis.

Dairy products are traditionally considered to be the most common sources of calcium in the diet. For those who are lactose intolerant then nondairy sources include vegetables, such as broccoli and the Chinese cabbages. Some drinks, cereals and tofu can be obtained which are fortified with calcium.

Supplements
Whilst it would be nice to get all of the calcium you need from the foods you eat, however a significant number of people are able to do this. No matter what the reason is, you need to make sure that you are doing something in order to make sure that you are getting all of the calcium you need, especially if you are not getting enough in your day-to-day diet.

The best way to do this would be to take calcium supplements. Supplements come in many different forms so you should have no problems finding something that is suitable for your needs. There are pills, liquids and chewables that you can take for the calcium that you need. You might want to speak to a health care professional regarding the type of supplement that they think is best for you.

The two most common calcium supplements are in the form of calcium carbonate and citrate. Calcium carbonate is generally more readily available and is normally relatively inexpensive. Both calcium carbonate and calcium citrate are easily absorbed, although people with low amounts of stomach acid may absorb calcium citrate more readily. It has been found that the body tend to absorb calcium carbonate efficiently when the supplement is taken with food, whereas people absorb calcium citrate equally effectively when the supplement is consumed with or without food

Recommended daily intake of calcium vary depending on age and gender and you should consult your health care practitioner for guidelines whether supplementation is for you. If you are deficient with your vitamin D, you might want to look into a supplements that includes vitamin D along with the calcium. This will ensure that the calcium is absorbed properly.

It is important to be aware that calcium and magnesium are in a group of "parasympathetic" elements which may show anti-inflammatory at higher amounts.

Side Effects
Currently, there are no known major side effects that come from taking the recommended amount of calcium. Even the less serious side effects of bloating, flatulence and constipation are very uncommon. You should have no worries about adding the calcium to your body that it has needed all along. If after taking calcium supplements you notice anything drastically changed with your body or if you notice any side effects that are not normal, you will want to speak with your doctor.

Getting Started
If you feel as though you are not getting enough calcium and magnesium in your diet, you want to look into the various ways you can change that. Calcium supplements are the easiest and quickest way to make sure that you are getting everything your body needs to be strong, healthy and ready to take on the next half of your life.

Any information, advice, recommendations, statements or otherwise contained herein, or in any other communication whether oral or in writing, is not intended to replace or to be a substitute for medical advice trained by a trained physician or healthcare practitioner.