Strong Mamas Need Strong Bones. Are You Getting Enough Calcium?

*This post is sponsored- but the thoughts and feelings are our own, and we only work with businesses we believe to be reputable and resourceful to our readers.

As a physician, I know that eating a healthy diet is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. But, as a mother, I’m often so focused on trying to get my kids to eat this way that I let my own balanced diet slide. At least there’s a little bit of calcium in that left-over mac ‘n cheese I’m spooning from their bowls, right? 

It turns out that calcium really is one of the most important nutrients for our health.  We need it to maintain good bone health and prevent the development of osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become weak and more likely to break. Women, especially small, thin women, are more susceptible to this disease than men, and our risk increases as we age. In fact, after age 40, women lose about 1% of their bone mineral density (BMD) every year. I don’t know about you, but I want to be a strong grandmother who can scoop up my grandkids into great big bear hugs. Having a calcium deficiency might put a kink in that plan, though. 

Fortunately, we can do things now to prevent osteoporosis later. We should avoid smoking and excess drinking, and we should incorporate weight-bearing exercises into our normal routine. The National Institute of Health (NIH) also recommends that we eat about 1,000 mg per day of calcium. Good sources for this are low-fat cheese, yogurt and milk, and foods fortified with calcium such as orange juice, cereals, breads. However, studies have shown that it’s actually pretty hard to meet these daily requirements through diet alone, especially for those of us restricting diary or gluten. So, what’s a busy mom to do? 

Check out AlgaeCal! 

AlgaeCal is a calcium supplement that is registered with the FDA and has GRAS status (aka “Generally Recognized as Safe” by the FDA). This supplement is actually made from algae that is hand-picked from pristine, government protected beaches in South America. Then it’s milled into powdered form. 

When I was first asked to try this supplement, I wondered what really makes AlgaeCal different from all the other calcium supplements out there. What caught my eye is the fact that it is the only calcium supplement clinically proven to increase BMD, a claim that has been supported by three human clinical studies published in peer-reviewed journals. So not only does AlgaeCal slow down bone density loss, it actually increases bone density year after year, for at least seven years. In their longest study, even 80-year-old women were increasing their BD by 1% each year! 

AlgaeCal is also USDA Certified Organic, which means all of its processes are sustainable, ensuring the supplement is in the most natural, purest form possible. It’s also Kosher Certified, meaning it is a completely natural product, with no additives or preservatives. 

Another thing that separates AlgaeCal from other calcium supplements is that in addition to calcium, this supplement contains 73 trace minerals found in our bones, including things like magnesium, zinc, boron, vanadium, and silica. This means you are replenishing not just calcium but many other necessary minerals, as well.

Something else I learned since trying this product is that different types of calcium affect our absorption differently. Traditional calcium supplements, such as calcium carbonate and calcium citrate, are made from rocks, whereas AlgaeCal is derived from a living plant. Calcium from plants have been found to be more body friendly and absorbs more easily into our bones. 

While we’re learning about minerals, here are some other debunked myths about calcium:

1. Not all calcium is the same, and most are not derived from an edible source. More than 90% of calcium supplements are made from marble or limestone (calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, calcium citrate malate), which, like I mentioned above, is harder for our bodies to break down and absorb.
2. Not all calcium supplement formulations are complete. Adding trace minerals to calcium, like AlgaeCal does, is proven to be more effective than calcium on its own or calcium combined with magnesium/Vitamin D.
3. All calcium is absorbed at the same rate of about 25-35%. Having the best absorption does not always correlate with the best effect on bone density. 
4. Capsules are the best for digestion because tablets can be harder to breakdown. 
5. Calcium not only helps with bone health; it is also important for our heart, muscles, blood flow and nervous system. 

I strongly encourage each of you to focus more on your bone health. It is so important to try to prevent the development of osteoporosis by exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Consider adding a natural, organic supplement like AlgaeCal to help boost your calcium intake and increase your bone mineral density. AlgaeCal can be purchased here, on Amazon, or at a local health store near you. 

And as always, consult with your doctor if you have any questions about your bone health, risk of osteoporosis, or the appropriate use of supplements. We’ve got to take care of ourselves now, so that we can give our grandkids great big bear hugs later.