Supplementing with AlgaeCal and Vitamin D for one year can increase your bone mineral density by 1.3%
Algaecal
Updated Apr. 18th, 2024 | Read Time: 3 Minutes | What You Will Learn:
- Normal Loss of Bone Density
- Ways To Increase Bone Density
- How Does Algaecal Support Bone Health?
- Algaecal Supplements & How To Take Them
Calcium is an essential mineral for health as it is required both for building bone density and for maintaining electrolyte balance in the body. There are a number of different forms of calcium available, each with different ability to be absorbed and utilized by the human body. AlgaeCal is a proprietary bone building supplement made from an extract of a South American algae called Algas calcareas™. When this form of calcium is combined with other bone building minerals and vitamin D in the patented AlgaeCal formula, it has been shown to improve bone density over the course of one year of supplementation.
Normal Loss of Bone Density
Bone density peaks around the age of 20, and then begins to decline from that point onward, throughout our lives. Research has found that depending on age and hormone status, the average female over 40 loses between 0.5% and 1% of her bone density each year, with potentially larger losses occurring after menopause (potentially around 2% yearly). In men the numbers are around half what we see in women for corresponding age groups. The measurement of bone density is used to calculate fracture risk and to diagnose osteoporosis.
Ways To Increase Bone Density
Most calcium supplements are targeted at simply helping to prevent further loss of bone density, and hope to hold the body at the current bone density level. Even with regular calcium supplementation with normal calcium sources, bone mineral density tends to decrease by 0.1% over the year. AlgaeCal goes above and beyond normal calcium supplements by actually increasing bone mineral density by an average of 1.3% over one year of supplementation when combined with 1000IU of vitamin D. So, AlgaeCal not only stops bone loss, but can actually help you to once again regain lost bone mass.
How Does Algaecal Support Bone Health?
The research on this particular supplement is still quite new, so there is much that is not yet understood. It is believed that the calcium extracted from algae is better absorbed in our digestive tracts and thus more available for our body's use. Some test-tube research on bone cells soaked in different forms of calcium found that the AlgaeCal form allowed for increased cell activity and calcium absorption relative to other forms of supplemental calcium. It is thought that like many other nutrients, the plant form of calcium, coming from a "whole food" source is more absorbable than the mineral-based forms. When the plants absorb the nutrients from mineral sources, they alter them to make them more bioavailable. In addition to this increased absorbability, other bone-building vitamins and minerals have been added to boost the effect of this active calcium.
Algaecal Supplements & How To Take Them
According to the maker of this particular supplement, and going along with their research results, the recommended dose is 750mg of calcium from AlgaeCal bone health supplement daily combined with 1000IU of vitamin D. That was the dose that created a 1.3% increase in bone density over the course of one year. Be sure to dose according to the calcium content of the supplement, and not its total weight. Many AlgaeCal supplements will already contain vitamin D to ensure benefits to bone health. If it does not, be sure to get at least 1,000IU of vitamin D as well. In general it is a good idea to take calcium supplements away from food to avoid blocking absorption.
Many calcium supplements out there are actually derived from limestone rocks. While some of them are enhanced, like calcium citrate, most are left in their natural state of calcium carbonate, which is very difficult for your body to absorb - and can end up causing calcification of your arteries. This is where whole food source calcium supplements can help. Food source calcium is naturally balanced with other supporting nutrients that help it to get absorbed better. Algae Cal is one of them. It's derived from (as the name suggests) from natural aglae, and not from rocks like calcium carbonate.
This supplement sounds amazing! I wonder if there was any found side effects from long term use? I would actually be interested in taking this as I am looking for some effective ways to up my calcium and to ensure that it gets properly absorbed as I heard a lot of the supplements out there don't do a great job of ensuring that calcium supplements get absorbed properly by the body. This supplement sounds great and I think it might be worth a try!
Hello, Rose With Thorns,
Thank you for your comment and question. Whenever you're looking to take a supplement long term, it's always best to speak to your health care practitioner since they're aware of your health profile. You can also reach out to one of our qualified holistic nutritionist or naturopaths by phone or by stopping in our retail store. In the mean time, if you'd like to learn more about calcium, check out this article: https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/calcium/
Stay healthy & well.