No matter what stage of life you are in, calcium is an important mineral in your diet. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, most people don't get enough calcium. Taking a chewable chocolate calcium supplement is an easy way to boost your calcium intake without planning out a meal around it. Adults ages 19 to 50 should be getting 1,000 mg of calcium per day. Over the age of 50, your needs increase to 1,200 mg per day.
Brands
Caltrate and Viactiv are two name brand chewable chocolate calcium supplements. Caltrate chocolate truffle calcium supplements contain 600 mg per one chew. Viactiv contains 500 mg per chocolate chewable.
Calcium Supplements
Both Caltrate and Viactiv chewable calcium supplements contain calcium carbonate, a combination of calcium and carbon. The amount of calcium a supplement claims to have is dependent on the amount of elemental calcium that is absorbable. A calcium supplement that contains calcium carbonate provides 40 percent of calcium for the calcium carbonate that it contains. Calcium carbonate is easily absorbed and you can get all of the calcium you need as long as you take in enough of the supplement.
Significance
Calcium is essential for many of the processes that occur inside of your body. Calcium plays a role in muscle contraction, heart rhythms, nervous system functioning and hormones. Calcium is also essential for bone health. Obtaining the amount of calcium your body needs throughout your lifespan can help stave off osteoporosis, a chronic disease characterized by weak and brittle bones. If you lack calcium, your body takes the calcium it needs elsewhere from your skeletal system. Over time this can make your bones fragile and increase your risk of fracture.
Other Health Benefits
The chewable calcium supplements Caltrate and Vitamin D also contain other beneficial vitamins that can improve your health and calcium use. Both Caltrate and Viactiv contain vitamin D. This vitamin aids the body in calcium absorption. Viactiv contains vitamin K as well as calcium and vitamin D. Vitamin K is also essential in the formation of bone by acting on the proteins that help to form bone. Taking a chocolate chewable calcium supplement can help you get closer to the recommendations for calcium and vitamins D and K.
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