Supplementing 101: Calcium May Be Detrimental Without the Right Mineral Balance

Especially for women, our mothers and their mothers before them instructed us to take calcium supplements for bone health, reproductive health, and health in general. But are your calcium supplements being absorbed properly? If not, they may be more detrimental than beneficial. The key is balance.

Calcium + Magnesium = Synergy

When the body is unable to absorb and metabolize calcium, the excess calcium may build up over time, leading to painful conditions such as arthritis, kidney stones, osteoporosis, and calcification of the arteries. But don’t throw away those calcium supplements just yet! The key is creating the right combination of supplements to maximize absorption. When it comes to calcium, adsorption is dependent on magnesium.

According to the famous 20th-century nutritionist Adelle Davis, “The correct proportion appears to be approximately twice as much calcium as magnesium.  Whenever a calcium supplement is used, magnesium likewise must be increased.”

In her book, Let’s Eat Right to Stay Fit, Davis goes on to state the many benefits of using these supplements together:

• Combating insomnia and supporting sound sleep habits
• Easing the symptoms of menopause and premenstrual syndrome
• Helping to prevent osteoporosis
• Reducing problems associated with calcium deposits
• Supporting heart and kidney health

The reasons behind this synergy are simple:

1. Magnesium keeps calcium dissolved in the blood. 
2. Magnesium stimulates a particular hormone, calcitonin, which helps to preserve bone structure and draws calcium out of the blood and soft tissues back into the bones.

Some supplements combine calcium and magnesium in one capsule. If taken separately, it is important to ensure that calcium supplements are taken with magnesium at a 2:1 ratio – two parts calcium to one part magnesium. 

Find a wide range of mineral and vitamin supplements in the Living Clean store, or read more about nutrition:

• What is Complete Nutrition?
• What Makes a Good Diet?

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