We know taking Calcium is important, right? We see it on food and milk labels, and hear it referred to regarding our bone health. There are some other crucial reasons to have good calcium levels (one might surprise you!) and a new way to get them there if you’re a little on the low side.
5 Most Important Reasons to Take Calcium
1. Bone and tooth health
As Health Canada (1) states “calcium helps in the development and maintenance of bones and teeth (especially in children and young adults). Adequate calcium (and Vitamin D) throughout life as part of a healthy diet (along with physical activity) may reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis” later in life.
Note* You’ve likely been hearing a lot about Vitamin D lately and how important it is for your immunity. It’s also extremely important for the absorption of calcium.
2. Electrolyte balance
Having sufficient calcium helps to maintain normal muscle function and since your body doesn’t produce calcium on its own, you need to make sure you’re getting an adequate supply through diet and supplements. Calcium plays a vital role in the contraction and relaxation process of muscle function and your body movement. (2)
3. Helps keep the heart healthy
Calcium helps regulate your cardiac (heart) muscles. Researchers have found that people with sufficient calcium levels have lower risks of hypertension, high blood pressure, and numerous other cardiovascular health problems.
4. Want to lose weight?
Ensure you’re getting the proper amount of calcium in your diet for your age. If you aren’t, your body may produce more parathyroid hormone. This has been shown to increase the amount of fat your body will make and store. (3)
5. Calcium shuttles your nutrients to your cells
Calcium makes your good diet worthwhile and helps your health by transporting the nutrients you eat to your billions of cells. This way your cells can function properly and run your body efficiently. If you don’t have enough calcium around, you can eat the food, but the nutrients won’t get where they need to go to help you.
How Much Calcium Should I Take?
Health Canada Dietary Reference Intakes of Calcium
| Age group | Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) per day | Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) per day |
| Infants 0-6 months | 400 IU (10 mcg) | 1000 IU (25 mcg) |
| Infants 7-12 months | 400 IU (10 mcg) | 1500 IU (38 mcg) |
| Children 1-3 years | 600 IU (15 mcg) | 2500 IU (63 mcg) |
| Children 4-8 years | 600 IU (15 mcg) | 3000 IU (75 mcg) |
| Children and Adults | 600 IU (15 mcg) | 4000 IU (100 mcg) |
| 9-70 years | ||
| Adults > 70 years | 800 IU (20 mcg) | 4000 IU (100 mcg) |
| Pregnancy & Lactation | 600 IU (15 mcg) | 4000 IU (100 mcg) |
What’s New with Calcium and Vitamin D Effervescent Hydration Tablets?
Anyone who’s taken calcium tablets knows it isn’t the easiest mineral to take, partially because the dosage is fairly high making the tablet pretty large. This can make the tablet difficult to chew and swallow. For the elderly with dentures, it can be next to impossible, and even somewhat scary for them trying to get the tablet down. Crushers and cutters often don’t “cut it” either.
Drinkable calcium products have been on the market for a while, and some of the commonly known ones like Calcium Sandoz Forte and CalSource calcium effervescent tablets are now reportedly more difficult to get. Sandoz Canada has withdrawn Calcium Sandoz Forte 500mg from the market.
Effervescent tablets offer an easy and effective way to take calcium because the dissolving of the calcium occurs in the glass, not in the body, and this makes it easier to tolerate. The mineral’s absorption is also enhanced due to the effervescent mode of action increasing cellular permeability.
Pharmaris Canada has recently brought Nutrazul Calcium + Vitamin D effervescent tablets to Canadians. When mixed with water, the effervescent tablet creates a refreshing lemon lime drink to help people reach their ideal daily calcium and Vitamin D intake. It’s an easy way to take calcium plus vitamin D, and has the added benefit of hydration. In a chronically dehydrated society, this factor is particularly important for seniors and children as they are at the highest risk of dehydration. COVID isolation of our elderly has seriously worsened the dehydration situation. Research show our bodies and brains are approximately 70% and 75% water respectively, therefore good mental and physical health is highly dependent on having enough water intake.
I hope you have found this information valuable. Nutrazul Calcium + Vitamin D significantly helped my father take these supplements in an easier more enjoyable way after trying unsuccessfully to continue with the tablets during isolation while living in a seniors centre.
Nancy Phillips, Kinesiologist, MBA
V.P. Prevention & Wellness Division
Pharmaris Canada
1. Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/vitamins-minerals/vitamin-calcium-updated-dietary-reference-intakes-nutrition.html
2.Overview of Calcium
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56060/
3. Low calcium and obesity in College students
https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2891-12-8
