Health Articles > Health-supplements-and-vitamins > Calcium Supplements

We've all heard that calcium is vital for strong bones and healthy teeth. Calcium is the most abundant mineral found in our bodies and serves a variety of important functions, particularly in the skeletal-muscular system but is vital in other bodily areas as well. Our everyday diet generally provides us with our calcium needs but in some instances it may not, depending partially on which foodstuffs are readily available to us.

One way to do this is through the foods you eat and the milk you drink. If your diet lacks calcium, supplements are a good way to increase your daily intake, but you should know more about the supplements before taking them. The lack of calcium in your body can cause many adverse effects.

Growing bodies require more calcium on a daily basis as do pregnant women. For most adults up through about 50 years in age the daily recommended dosage is 1000 milligrams. You can keep this number in mind when checking the label on multivitamins or calcium supplements.

Calcium supplements pose little health threat, but there are important aspects you should take into consideration before beginning calcium supplements. Some prescription medications do not mix with calcium, so be sure to ask you doctor about calcium supplements and how they might interact with your medications. Calcium may make kidney stones worse. Calcium comes attached to another element, such as carbonate.

Check the label for a USP symbol, which means the supplements are free from mercury, lead, and other metals. Also, since calcium supplements come in a variety of sizes, be sure to check the label for the size of the serving. Because calcium is so crucial for your body to function, calcium supplements are something to consider if you think you may not be getting the daily recommended intake. But, as always, check with your doctor if you have any hesitations or reservations.