[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/answers-to-your-top-5-questions-about-calcium-supplements\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/answers-to-your-top-5-questions-about-calcium-supplements\/","headline":"Answers to your top 5 questions about calcium supplements","name":"Answers to your top 5 questions about calcium supplements","description":"Print PDF eBook Facebook Twitter Gmail LinkedIn Pinterest Calcium is the nutrient people think about when it comes to bone strength. Every day I\u2019m asked, \u201cHow much calcium should I take, and when? What\u2019s the best form? Can I take too much?\u201d Perhaps you have one of these questions yourself, so here\u2019s a brief \u201cCalcium […]","datePublished":"2017-04-04","dateModified":"2026-04-22","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/#Person","name":"Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/","identifier":72,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Center for Better Bones","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","width":150,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/calcium-supplements-BB-Blog-3-20.jpg","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/calcium-supplements-BB-Blog-3-20.jpg","height":1109,"width":2120},"url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/answers-to-your-top-5-questions-about-calcium-supplements\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TlGLMqjKkTw#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TlGLMqjKkTw","name":"How much calcium should I get?","description":"Dr. Brown answers one of her most commonly asked questions, \"How much calcium should I take?\"  She emphasizes the fact that calcium should be obtained through both diet and supplements.\n\n\u2192 Want to learn everything you need to manage & reverse your osteoporosis\/osteopenia naturally in one inspiring weekend with Dr. Brown? Join our bone health retreat & workshop! Learn more here: https:\/\/shop.betterbones.com\/pages\/love-your-bones-love-your-life-virtual-retreat\n\n\u2192 If you are interested in working with Dr. Brown to develop a personalized natural bone health program, read more about consultations here: https:\/\/www.betterbones.com\/consultations\/help-osteoporosis-osteopenia-fracture-healing-bone-health-concerns\/\n\n\u2192 Would you like your questions answered by Dr. Brown?  Comment below and she may address them in a future video!\n\nCheck out our website! \u2192 http:\/\/ www.betterbones.com\n\nWant to connect with Better Bones on social media?\nLike on Facebook \u2192 http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterbonesbetterbody\n\u200bFollow on Twitter \u2192 http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/drsusanbrown\n\u200bFollow our Instagram \u2192 http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterbonesbetterbody\n\u200bCheck out our Pinterest \u2192 http:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/betterbonesbetterbody\n\n#osteoporosis #osteopenia #bonemass #bonehealth #weightandbonemass #womenshealth #drsusanbrown #betterbonesbetterbody #preventosteoporosis\nExercise for bone health: patreon.com\/betterbones\n\nTranscription:\nhello everyone one of the questions I\nget every week it's how much calcium\nshould I take we now realize that the\nideal amount of calcium is probably\nsomewhere around 1,200 milligrams of\ncalcium a day that is plenty actually\nthat's what our US government currently\nrecommends and that 1,200 milligrams of\ncalcium comes from both diet and\nsupplements so for example in the better\nbones program we supply perhaps six or\nseven hundred milligrams of calcium and\nsupplements and the rest one gets from a\ndiet 600 500 700 milligrams that should\nbe plenty all together diet in\nsupplements 1200 milligrams take care\ntalk later","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/TlGLMqjKkTw\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/TlGLMqjKkTw\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/TlGLMqjKkTw\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/TlGLMqjKkTw\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/TlGLMqjKkTw\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2015-03-16T17:24:53+00:00","duration":"PT51S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TlGLMqjKkTw","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCm6Zry9uGdrZpm05sQLIxMw#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCm6Zry9uGdrZpm05sQLIxMw","name":"Dr. Susan E. Brown","description":"Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD, is a medical anthropologist, a New York State Certified Nutritionist, and the author of Better Bones, Better Body -- the first comprehensive look at natural bone health. Dr. Brown specializes in osteoporosis, osteopenia, bone health regeneration, and auto-immune disease. She is also famous for her natural approach to bone health; check out her Better Bones programs and products.","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/ytc\/AIdro_m0l08uY9k8RO1FbN8-VsYIOa8fiq9BtocNNM_k3xw7a7s=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TlGLMqjKkTw#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TlGLMqjKkTw#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TlGLMqjKkTw&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TlGLMqjKkTw#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":2857}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TlGLMqjKkTw#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":39}]},"about":["Bone Nutrition"],"wordCount":500,"keywords":["alkaline diet","calcium supplements","bone building nutrients"],"articleBody":" Print PDF eBook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTwitter\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPinterest\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalcium is the nutrient people think about when it comes to bone strength. Every day I\u2019m asked, \u201cHow much calcium should I take, and when? What\u2019s the best form? Can I take too much?\u201dPerhaps you have one of these questions yourself, so here\u2019s a brief \u201cCalcium 101\u201d:Table of ContentsToggle     2 Minutes Read#1. How much calcium should I take?#2. When should I take my calcium supplement?#3. What is the best form of calcium?#4. Why is the calcium in Better Bones Basics and Better Bones Builder so good for bone?#5. Can you take too much calcium?#1. How much calcium should I take?The current recommended calcium intake for adult women is 1200 mg a day between diet and supplements.You may need more calcium if you don\u2019t absorb it as well as most people. Nocturnal leg cramps, for instance, may indicate a higher need for calcium.#2. When should I take my calcium supplement?It\u2019s best to take calcium supplements with food so they absorb better \u2014 ideally, spread them out over two meals for best absorption. Blood calcium can dip at night, so it helps to take some of your supplemental calcium with dinner.#3. What is the best form of calcium?I suggest a mix of different calcium salts, including calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, calcium ascorbate, calcium glycinate and calcium malate. All of these forms of calcium are well absorbed and highly alkalizing, which is a top priority here at the Center For Better Bones.#4. Why is the calcium in Better Bones Basics and Better Bones Builder so good for bone?In my products, I use a mix of alkalizing calcium forms, including calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, calcium ascorbate. These forms are concentrated \u2013 so that you can get the optimal dose with the fewest pills possible. Calcium carbonate is the same form of calcium as found in marine algae calcium pills and it is highly absorbable if taken with foodBut what makes the calcium even more highly effective in Better Bones Basics and Better Bones Builder is that it paired with other nutrients it needs to do its job — magnesium, vitamin K2, and vitamin D. For example, calcium absorption depends on vitamin D. A person with inadequate vitamin D absorbs 65% less calcium than someone who has adequate vitamin D (or 32ng\/ml).#5. Can you take too much calcium?Yes. Although we need calcium in relatively large quantities, you can take too much. For those looking to maximize bone health generally, supplement with calcium in the range of 600 and 700 mg\/day. I don\u2019t recommend using over 1000 mg supplemental calcium, as doctors tended to prescribe in the past.\u00a0References:NIH. Office of Dietary Supplements. Calcium, Calcium Healthprofessional. Nov. 17, 2016.Heaney, RP et al. Absorption of calcium as the carbonate and citrate salts, with some observations on method. Osteoporosis International, 1999;9(1):19-23.For a complete breakdown of the most effective options, see our guide to the best supplements for bone health."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Bone Nutrition","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Answers to your top 5 questions about calcium supplements","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-nutrition\/answers-to-your-top-5-questions-about-calcium-supplements\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]