What Is Calcium?

Calcium is a mineral that’s well-known for its key role in bone health. Calcium also helps
maintain heart rhythm, muscle function, and more. Because of its health benefits, calcium is one
of the best-selling supplements in the U.S.

Calcium Health Benefits

Calcium is key to growing new bone and keeping the bone you have strong. Calcium
supplements are standard for treating and preventing osteoporosis -- weak and easily broken
bones -- and its precursor, osteopenia.

Calcium has many other uses. It's an ingredient in many antacids. Doctors also use it to control
high levels of magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium in your blood. There's good evidence it
can help prevent or control high blood pressure. It may also ease PMS symptoms and play a
role in preventing certain cancers. Some research shows that calcium with vitamin D, for
instance, may help protect premenopausal women from breast cancer. Calcium also has been
studied as a weight loss aid. But so far, these studies have been inconclusive.

The people most likely to have too little calcium are postmenopausal women. Since dairy
products are one of the most common sources of calcium, people who are lactose intolerant or
vegan may not get enough, either.

In general, it's best to take calcium supplements with food.

For better absorption, don't take more than 500 milligrams
at one time. Split up larger doses over the course of the
day. For your body to make use of calcium properly, you
also need to get enough vitamin D and magnesium.