What Should be my Daily Calcium Intake?

Deciding how much calcium you need is not as simple as it may seem. Many people choose to base their daily calcium intake on minimum daily amounts recommended by governmental and other organizations. Others tend to rely on a health care professional to come up with the calcium intake that is right for their situation. If you are currently attempting to determine how much calcium you should take in each day, here are a few tips.

For people who are in reasonably good health and not dealing with some specific health issue, the daily allotment of calcium intake recommended by professionals is normally the best place to begin. Various health agencies in different countries have established different calcium intake levels. In the United States, the current RDA or recommended daily allotment is set at one thousand milligrams. Generally, it is recommended to consume foods that contain calcium, although supplements can be used to help make up the difference if that is not feasible or likely.

However, calcium intake may vary based on the presence of different health conditions. For example, people suffering with anxiety disorders are sometimes counseled to make use of a calcium and magnesium combination in conjunction with anti-anxiety medications. The calming effects of calcium and magnesium, when taken together, may also help with situations where sleep is difficult. Calcium is used along with other minerals and various vitamins to aid in healing broken bones, lowering bad cholesterol, and treating leg cramps.

When these and other health conditions exist, a physician may recommend that the patient increase their calcium intake for a period of time. This can be especially true of the dietary habits of the individual do not routinely include foods rich in calcium. Often, a higher amount of calcium can be taken daily by making use of a mineral supplement.

Fortunately, there are many calcium sources available. Foods such as milk, cheese and whole grains are often excellent ways to ingest calcium. Barley, kale, and various types of nuts are also excellent ways to boost the daily calcium intake. Herbs like chamomile, horsetail, and damiana provide a significant amount of calcium and are easy to ingest. Even some antacid products, such as Tums®, include a healthy dose of calcium.

The bottom line is that making sure your daily calcium intake is at least as much as the minimum daily requirement set in your country is a good place to start. Above and beyond that minimum, it is important to confer with your doctor and decide if additional calcium would be beneficial in your particular situation. Keep in mind that too much calcium in the body will go beyond creating healthy bones and balancing the sleep cycle. Too much calcium can collect in various joints and tissues, creating additional health problems.