Did You Know It's Important to Take Vitamin D With Calcium?

Vitamin D is important for bone health and helps the body absorb calcium so it needs to be taken along with calcium. Before considering supplementation, it is best to first determine if your vitamin D level is optimal with the proper test taken by your physician.

According to the Institute for medicine, the recommended dietary allowance for vitamin D for men and women age 19 to 70 is 600 international units (IU) and 800 for over age 70. Vitamin D is absorbed through sun exposure and some foods naturally contain small amounts of vitamin D, such as canned salmon with bones, and egg yolks. There are two types of vitamin D. Vitamin D3 is what should be taken.

For men and women from age 19-50, the recommended dietary allowance for calcium is 1000 units, 1200 for women age 51-70 and 1200 also for men over age 70. Calcium carbonate has the most elemental calcium. Calcium is best absorbed in amounts of 500-600 mg or less at one time so it should be split into two or more does over the course of the day.  

These are the recommended dietary allowances; some experts are expressing the need for more. The upper limits are much higher. An awareness of new studies is very important for your health. Be aware of how much calcium is being consumed in your diet so as not to exceed upper limits. More is not always better.

Choosing supplements should be no different than choosing anything else for your body. Buyer beware! Vitamins can be poor in quality and contain fillers. Buy vitamins from a reliable source. Most healthfood stores provide good information on vitamins. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible interactions with other drugs. Read the label on the bottle for  the serving size, how to take them, with or without food and if they are combined with other vitamins or other minerals (vitamin D is often combined with calcium).

The best way to get what the body needs is naturally; however, it may not always be possible. For more information, please visit beatgoesonkettlebell.com.