Magnesium Health Watch

From Kalyx Natural Marketplace: Calcium is known best of all as a promoter of healthy and strong bones. But it plays a critical role in performance as well. Too little calcium and you can’t relax your muscles. Bad relaxation makes for less potential energy and so on and ultimately for less than satisfactory contraction. Magnesium is a mineral needed by every cell of your body. About half of your body’s magnesium stores are found inside cells of body tissues and organs, and half are combined with calcium and phosphorus in bone. Regular exercise and a healthy diet with enough calcium helps teen and young adult women maintain good bone health.

Calcium Magnesium Complex, 360 tabs: W

This is a great explanation of calcium, calcium supplements and preventing bone loss. It suggests supplement ingredients to avoid and the best combinations for optimal calcium absorption (e.g. chelated calciums like calcium citrate and malate). It also discusses the importance of additional elements (manganese, copper, zinc, strontium and more) in maximizing calcium and optimizing bone density.  Remember, always read your labels!

The Nutrition Source at the Harvard School of Public Health is a great resource for learning about health supplements, nutritional supplements, and vitamins.

It gives information on healthy eating and drinking, including serving sizes.  It also talks about the best sources of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.  Finally, it addresses the pros and cons of vitamin and mineral supplements, warning consumers not to go overboard with multivitamins or mega-fortified vitamins.

As a start, here are their 8 tops for eating right:

1. Choose good carbs, not no carbs. Whole grains are your best bet.
2. Pay attention to the protein package. Fish, poultry, nuts, and beans are the best choices.
3. Choose healthy fats, limit saturated fat, and avoid trans fat. Plant oils, nuts, and fish are the healthiest sources.
4. Choose a fiber-filled diet, rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
5. Eat more vegetables and fruits. Go for color and variety—dark green, yellow, orange, and red.
6. Calcium is important. But milk isn’t the only, or even best, source.
7. Moderate drinking can be healthy—but not for everyone. You must weigh the benefits and risks.
8. A daily multivitamin is a great nutrition insurance policy. Some extra vitamin D may add an extra health boost.

Vitamins – What Should You Eat? – The Nutrition Source – Harvard School of Public Health.

We haven’t been posting much specifically about coral calcium lately, but much like other supplements, its usefulness and claims are often called into question.   We like to share both the positive and negative information about mineral supplements, especially magnesium and calcium, so that you can make an informed decision.

Coral calcium is calcium carbonate, which is the most common type of calcium supplement available. Coral calcium isn’t chemically different from other calcium carbonate products.  Several years ago, claims of its disease-curing properties lead to an FTC ruling against Robert Barefoot and its coral calcium products.  However, the products are still available and widely popular, minus some of the original claims.

Some negatives raised about coral calcium include its cost.  Also, there have been dangerous amounts of certain metals present that may be unsafe.   We also haven’t seen evidence that coral calcium is more effective than regular old calcium supplements.  Be sure to get as much information as you can find before deciding to take a mineral supplement like coral calcium.

Be Wary of Coral Calcium and Robert Barefoot.