As women age, most will experience problems with bone density and osteoporosis or osteopenia (the precursor to osteoporosis).
This bone loss is directly related to a natural reduction in estrogen as we enter menopause or perimenopause. We usually think of estrogen and its role in reproductive health, but estrogen also directly impacts our bone health.
Estrogen works to help proper bone formation and to reduce the breakdown of bone. When estrogen levels drop, bone loss accelerates.
It would be ideal for women to start thinking about bone health and making sure they're supplementing with bone building supplements in their 30s, but most young women are not worried about bone health.
One bones hold our body's stores of calcium, like a bank. Calcium is needed for lots of processes in the body- cardiovascular health for one, and when dietary calcium is not sufficient, calcium is withdrawn from the bank (our bones) leaving them weaker.
We can't change the past in regards to dietary calcium or calcium supplementation, but beginning now can make a real difference in bone health.
There are lots of calcium supplements, and they are not created equal. We have some great ones at the store that are easily absorbed- Jarrow's Bone Up is probably our favorite, and Country Life has some great calciums as well.
Some calcium tips would be to split up your dosage, your body can only absorb around 500mg if calcium at one time, so taking more than that isn't the best choice, since unabsorbed, unusable calcium floating around in your body can actually be a negative.
Also, calcium can be hard for the body to absorb, which is why it's important to look for better forms like calcium hydroxyapatite or calcium citrate, and also to combine calcium with other supplements that enhance absorption and bone strength like magnesium, vitamin K, vitamin D, and others.
Stop in so we can help you find the product that's right for you! We’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights!
