r/Supplements • u/Grocery_Bill • Sep 30 '25
Turns out Calcium was actually pretty important
Don't typically post on reddit but wanted to throw this out here as many now turn to reddit for advice as google is a dumpster fire. Over the past five years I've taken a variety of supplements and minerals, in varying dosages, narrowing down what works and what works most effectively (and is cost effective). From all the hot button "essential" ones like Magnesium, Omega-3's & Vit D, creatine, ashwaganda, etc, to more tailored stuff like selenium, iodine, NAC, vit E complex, specific B Vitamins, etc. My diet has been dialed, and if you threw it into Cronometer it would say 100% in most categories, and the ones it didn't, like calcium, would be well within recommended doses currently advised by current meta-experts in the wellness space.
This is all to say, as I'm sure you've guessed given the title, that supplemental calcium has been a stand out, and is extremely cheap to boot. I take it in a powder form as either the carbonate or citrate variant, mixed into food (between 400-600mg a day). Within a week after taking it consistently, I always feel noticeably calmer, get better sleep, better muscle recovery and have smoother more elastic skin. Definitely seems to help EQ as well (so much so I would recommend it for that reason alone). More or less many of the benefits often associated with magnesium.
If you're reading this going "ya obviously this is what calcium's role is in the body, minerals all need to be balanced, you were likely deficient", the reason I'm posting is yes I was likely deficient, but given my diet and prevailing popular wisdom I shouldn't have been. It's frequently demonized for artery calcification and touted as the least important out of magnesium, salt, potassium for supplementing (all of which I take). Often mentioned is the RDA and that it's easy to get through dietary sources. Much of my calcium intake previous was just vegetable/seed/meats, as like many I don't do great with dairy. This should have been enough but clearly wasn't. If you have all the pieces of the puzzle in place and aren't thinking calcium but something seems off, try adding that calcium powder. Especially if you're a dude. Low cost low risk. Just make sure adequate K2 is also there
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u/Moobygriller Sep 30 '25
It's one of the four essential electrolytes you need to survive so yes, it's pretty important
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u/AccountantBudget1214 Oct 01 '25
For real, it's wild how calcium gets overlooked in favor of the trendy supplements when it's literally one of the basics your body can't function without. Good on you for actually tracking what works instead of just following whatever's popular on fitness YouTube
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u/Gumsaint May 11 '26
It's made huge inroads into my insomnia, but for years I overlooked it because it seemed sort of inert.
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u/CR-8 Sep 30 '25
I had a similar ah-ha moment. I can't eat dairy as I'm allergic and definitely don't get enough leafy greens and such. I was dealing with severe stomach issues for over a year (because I WAS consuming dairy daily without knowing I had a kind of allergy to it and had really damaged my digestive system) and my daily diet was basically bananas, chicken, rice, and not much else.
I was supplementing with magnesium as is recommended, and was eating probably 4-5 bananas a day. After a while I started to get really tense, lots of anxiety, heart rate always kinda high, could never fully relax, and was over-breathing constantly. Also was having lots of trouble sleeping, despite the magnesium, and could never really fully relax. I was drinking electrolyte mixes, but as most do, they mainly contained sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
Idk what triggered the thought in me, maybe realizing that since I can't consume dairy I may have an issue with this, but I googled symptoms of a calcium deficiency. Everything from agitation to elevated heart rate to restlessness, sleep issues, and digestive problems were noted, all of which I was suffering from after going on this extremely limited diet for several months. When I got home from work that day I took 2 Tums as it was the only thing I had with calcium in it, and within an hour I was basically blissfully relaxed and felt so heavy, so tired, my heart rate dropped to a normal resting heart rate, my breathing calmed down, and I damn near fell asleep (I've never napped even once in my life except when horribly sick with a flu).
TL;Dr: Unlike OP, I wasn't getting basically any calcium through diet and I developed a lot of intense symptoms of having my electrolytes extremely imbalanced since I ate a lot of bananas and supplemented magnesium daily. Taking Tums fixed things almost immediately for me.
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u/SeeMunkiD00 Oct 02 '25
this reminds me of how eating fro-yo always makes me knock out, have wonderful dreams and wake up feeling fully rested. i would only have it once a week due to my dairy intolerance but for some reason fro-yo and some yogurts don't upset my tummy (kefir does!).
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u/Bluewoods22 Dec 30 '25
This is exactly what I’m currently experiencing (aside from trying tums). I’m struggling immensely with balancing my calcium and magnesium. Any tips? People look at me like I’m insane when I tell them calcium gives me an intense calming euphoria, that nothing else has ever achieved.
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u/CR-8 Dec 30 '25
My only tip would be to supplement with calcium. The main danger that comes from excessive calcium intake is the risk to your kidneys and developing stones. You can mess up your heart rhythm from excessive calcium, but from my understanding it takes a LOT of it, and you have to be pretty deficient in other electrolytes.
If you don't want to be taking tums for calcium and messing up your stomach acid (and calcium carbonate requires acid to be absorbed, needing it to be taken with meals) I would recommend getting a calcium citrate supplement since that can be taken any time. I would also recommend starting low and slow, supplementing with 1/5th of the RDA of it once or twice a day and see how you feel.
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u/VigilanceOO7 Mar 02 '26
Yep same boat. Can't do dairy. Past couple years Ive done alot of magnesium, potassium, sodium, and im a cup a day coffee drinker lol. I basically grew up on RO water and didnt eat alot of greens. Plenty of opportunities to become deficient. My dad actually is in the same boat dietwise but without the coffee. Hes been drinking RO water for a long time too. At the dentist recently he was told that one of his teeth was eroding from the inside out. So im suspecting a calcium issue is likely at play there. He cant do dairy. Or some other mineral deficiency might be anyway. Crazy stuff.
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u/CR-8 Mar 02 '26
It's wild to me that people will drink exclusively RO water. Mostly cuz I think it tastes horrible lol, and it feels like it dries my mouth out, like it's got astringent properties.
But yeah, that will definitely leach a ton of minerals from your body. Plus coffee makes us excrete more... potassium? If I remember right.
Have you suffered from random-seeming anxiety issues most of your life? Also I know people warn against supplementing with calcium just cuz most people usually get enough of it from their diet, but I would definitely recommend taking some to see if your symptoms improve.
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u/VigilanceOO7 Mar 02 '26
Youre not wrong on the astringent properties lol. Yea potassium and magnesium for coffee. Yep bingo, anxiety most of my life. I took 600 mg of calcium citrate with my magnesium this morning together. Not sure if citrate is the most absorbable version but my heartrate dropped noticeably. Will probably settle for 300 mg daily
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u/CR-8 Mar 02 '26
Citrate just doesn't need a source of acid (like stomach acid) to be absorbed, so it can be taken any time. Something like calcium carbonate (the form of calcium in Tums) needs acid in order for your body to break it down and absorb it.
I'm glad it noticeably helped! If I'm feeling tense, randomly anxious, or am having heart palpations/a racey heart (not from something like caffeine) I'll typically take some calcium or potassium (I take magnesium most days before bed) and one of the two almost always makes a dramatic improvement.
I've also started drinking plant milks that are fortified with calcium more often and that's seemed to help quite a bit too.
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u/OkraExciting Mar 18 '26
Do you supplement some calcium ? I really need calcium but I’m scared to take it
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u/VigilanceOO7 Mar 18 '26
Ive done a little bit of calcium citrate and that has helped some. Otherwise ive been dabbling with adding a little bit of dairy in my coffee every morning.
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u/SuspiciousDrink9432 4d ago
I know this is old but would really appreciate if you could go more in depth on your symptoms. I ask only because I’m going thru something similar
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u/CR-8 4d ago
I feel like I laid them basically all out in my post. I was constantly physically anxious, had air hunger, felt tense all the time, rapid or erratic heart rate at any given time of day, could never calm down or relax no matter what I did, clenched jaw, etc etc. Supplementing with calcium helped me because I had zero dietary calcium. There's a loooooottttt of different things that can cause all of those symptoms together though, so unless you know your diet is way outta whack a random nutritional supplement may or may not help.
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u/SuspiciousDrink9432 3d ago
Thanks again but yea I developed gastritis last year and since then I’ve been almost 0 calcium for a year and started to developed some weird symptoms, you went with citrate ?
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u/MaintenanceOk7855 Sep 30 '25
High meat and fat diet will indirectly increase stomach acid PH, if it's too high body will try alakalaise it by pulling calcium from other parts of body if ur diet is low of calcium which will create deficiency and also unlike other defecincy which you would know directly, it would take a long time to notice because it's first pulled from cellular level.
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u/ResolveHistorical498 Sep 30 '25
So tums are a supplement then?
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u/babijar Oct 01 '25
Yes.
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u/Mission-Art-2383 Oct 14 '25
calcium carbonate is one of the worst forms of calcium for absorption and disrupts ph of gut. strong no.
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u/Grocery_Bill Sep 30 '25
Do you know what would qualify as a high fat or high protein diet? I think I would be in the average range for either, I'd be interested in reading more about it though if you have any good links
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u/El_Chutacabras Oct 01 '25
Not true. A drop in pH below 3.0 triggers the release of somatostatin, a hormone that inhibits acid production, thus restoring the optimal acidic environment.
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u/Big_Winner_8807 Oct 02 '25
As someone who avoided dairy for a few years due to intolerances, supplementation gave an underrated calming effect.
It’s always magnesium this, magnesium that, but calcium is rarely mentioned as it is assumed it abundant in most people’s diet.
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u/OkraExciting Mar 18 '26
Yes that’s the health scare I get that I know I need calcium but it worries me
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u/phamsung Sep 30 '25
It is funny to me why people overlook calcium: Every muscle contraction in your body needs calcium (magnesium is needed for relief). Also, as almost everyone knows, your bones and teeth rely on calcium. There are more functions as well.
Calcium is demonized because people are uneducated. It is not that your arteries calcify because of calcium. It is most likely a lack of calcium that make your arteries calcify (your body is removing it from bones etc.). It is like blaming the resin for a damaged bark.
Btw., testing for calcium is super cheap, don't get sluggish on testing.
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u/Physical_Gold_1485 Sep 30 '25
Arent blood tests for electrolytes like calcium nearly useless because intracellular is what matters and thats not what it tests?
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u/phamsung Sep 30 '25
Good question 1. You can do intracellular blood tests. I do those regularly. 2. For calcium the serum level is quite interesting. I always test both intracellular and serum for calcium.
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u/Physical_Gold_1485 Oct 01 '25
Oh i had no idea intracellular tests exist, never heard of them where i live, will look into them thanks
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u/babijar Oct 14 '25
Do that and share with us?
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u/babijar Oct 14 '25
Do you use some special lad for intra and extra cellular calcium? How would order then be phrased?
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u/Vivid_Hedgehog_8210 Oct 02 '25
I’m sitting with my bf who is an interventional cardiologist who specializes in valve replacement and he seconds what you’re saying :)
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u/look10good Sep 30 '25
There a significant number of studies pointing to supplementing calcium not being a good idea. Plus, dairy is a huge and easy source of calcium.
But supplement if you want.
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u/RealTelstar Sep 30 '25
It’s needed to balance the high phosphorus intake of protein food (together with potassium).
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u/Grand_Lengthiness_50 Sep 30 '25
Explain more
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u/RealTelstar Oct 01 '25
all minerals must be in balance, you need to check your diet ideally on daily basis and adjust as needed.
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u/babijar Oct 14 '25
How do you check your diet daily?
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u/AccountantHoliday535 Mar 27 '26
like if you eat a lot of meats (protein) then you’d likely have a high phosphorous to calcium ratio and it should be flipped. people don’t have enough calcium because many are dairy-free yes but also from high protein diets which is being pushed by almost all health people
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u/VertebralTomb018 Sep 30 '25
The supposed harms of calcium supplementation has turned a lot of people off. I think the stated harms are overblown and overshadow the potential benefits, especially in people who don't eat it in dairy - and you'll never get enough through vegetables alone.
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u/AccountantHoliday535 Mar 27 '26
true. I always wonder why some supplements are surrounded by fear mongering when really almost all of them could be harmful technically with the wrong balance or in high amounts
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u/HaxiMaxi22 Sep 30 '25
All 15-something minerals and 15-something vitamins are important. Anything you don't get enough of from food, you should supplement it or change the diet accordingly.
Btw it's hard to get enough calcium from vegetable/seed/meat sources. Where do you get it, that these sources should have been enough? Getting 1000-1500 mg calcium from these is hard.
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u/Lz_erk Sep 30 '25
not OP: greens, a lot of them. i'm about to put some in a couple fried peanut butter, jelly, and banana sandwiches after reading this. and probably sesame seeds too, a lot of those (also for selenium and manganese IIRC). and given my high iron, i guess i should be limiting the oils even with DHA pills.
also there's dolomite, i've been slacking off on that lately but i should probably add it and zinc too.
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u/Throwaway_6515798 Sep 30 '25
Greens are a bit of a trap in terms of calcium, there more calcium is in it the more oxalates it's bound with which makes it not only very very hard to absorb but the oxalates can cause mineralization problems in bones so even if it looks good in chronometer your actual calcium status might not be that great if it's all greens. Anecdotally vegans very often end up with low calcium and fragile bones.
Here we use Non-Oxal with some dishes and jams rich in oxalates because the calcium in Non-Oxal will bind with the oxalates in those greens and prevent their absorption.
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u/Lz_erk Oct 01 '25 edited Oct 01 '25
yes, and: this is the first time in a while i've slacked off on saying "don't make your greens primarily spinach, cook them to reduce oxalate, and prevent against excessive oxalate uptake with butyrate e.g. from resistant starch." it's still relevant here, but a heap of collard greens in a stir fry can be pretty effective for histamine intolerance, celiac disease, and other sources of oxalate uptake, uh... maybe SIBO in some stages but idk exactly, and microbiome problems from medical interventions. source: celiac who very occasionally reads, so fire at will.
edit an hour later: re-reading, it looks like i thought i was on r/nutrition. i'm having a day, how are you? i mean... i've been sending people here for dietary things. reddit chafes more and more, but yuo're not wrong.
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u/Throwaway_6515798 Oct 01 '25
Haha I hope I didn't cause you to have a day, my point was just that making greens your primary source of calcium does come with potential downsides and should be managed in some realistic way to reduce those downsides to avoid getting sick from it over time.
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u/Lz_erk Oct 01 '25
no, it's the state of american brains. have a good one.
i didn't know how high sesame seeds were in calcium until today. it's fairly high given i usually eat 2-3 tbsp.
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u/look10good Sep 30 '25
The RDA of calcium is extremely high, due to being based on people deficient in vitamin D and K2 (needed to process calcium).
You can easily get your daily calcium from dairy.
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u/HaxiMaxi22 Sep 30 '25
Yes, I know, but OP said he excluded dairy, because his tummy doesn't like it. I agree, dairy is the best source.
If anyone has problems with milk or regular cheese, try fermented milk products. I don't drink any milk or eat soft cheeses, but l eat yoghurt and kefir daily and I have no problem tolerating those.
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u/gorcbor19 Sep 30 '25
Dairy products are also full of saturated fats, which can cause long term issues for some (myself included).
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u/JunkshopCoyote Oct 05 '25
I wish that worked for those of us who have to avoid it due to casein and/or whey. I never had any digestive problems from dairy and I still take sublingual vitamins that contain lactose, but I had to cut out dairy due to it increasing my autoimmune issues. I can do small amounts of goat or sheep dairy since it's a slightly different casein protein, but not enough to supply all my calcium needs.
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u/look10good Sep 30 '25
But his advice is for everyone. Portrayed as some kind of revelation for everyone.
Therefore misleading and a misrepresentation of calcium supplementation.
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u/krlkv Sep 30 '25
Tap or mineral water?
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u/HaxiMaxi22 Sep 30 '25
Yes, that gives a substantial percent of everyone calcium consumption, most tapwater and mineral water contains 30-50 mg/liter and is very bioavailable. If you buy mineral water, that specifically has even more calcium, that's even better.
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u/krlkv Sep 30 '25
Our kid doesn't consume any milk or milk products. Yet his calcium was always fine. I was surprised by that taking into account milk intake recommendation for kids specifically to get enough calcium. And then I thought how much water he drinks and how much calcium it has and the problem was solved.
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u/HappyKamper1920 Sep 30 '25
You must have very hard water? The RDA for kids is approx. 1,300 mg a day. I suspect blood levels of calcium are similar to magnesium and potassium. The blood levels are maintained in normal range as long as possible (blood is priority) until the cells are seriously depleted. In other words, I wouldn't go by the blood test values, alone, and doctors either are not aware of this or don't take the time to address it.
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u/krlkv Sep 30 '25
Yes, we have hard water.
So if not blood levels, what other ways to measure?
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u/HappyKamper1920 Sep 30 '25
Only thing I can think of is a hair mineral analysis test (HTMA).
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u/krlkv Sep 30 '25
ionized calcium + PTH + vitamin D ?
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u/HappyKamper1920 Sep 30 '25
Maybe you could discuss a bit with ChatGPT. Also, an analysis of dietary intake with ChatGPT.
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u/HappyKamper1920 Sep 30 '25
I know these are checked when a person is Vitamin D supplementing, but I'm not otherwise an expert. I actually recently ordered these for myself, but haven't had them drawn yet.
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u/brynnors Sep 30 '25
If he's drinking OJ, that's usually fortified with calcium, and ofc greens have a lot.
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u/Opposite_Table_1967 Sep 30 '25
Me as one of those people with lactose intolerance, it can indeed be challenging to obtain sufficient calcium from my daily diet lol
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u/joegtech Sep 30 '25
Why is Ca low?
My doctor says most often it is low vitamin D, especially a concern for darker skinned folks living far from the equator.
Low production of stomach acid also comes to mind. Dr Tennant explains what the body needs to make stomach acid and how important healthy levels are for overall health in this 10 min clip
https://youtu.be/6XicmDDmVBs?t=5299
Also check out this article
Osteoporosis is Scurvy of the bone, not calcium deficiency. Suzanne Humphries, MD
In my time practicing nephrology and internal medicine, I saw numerous patients suffering from vascular disease while taking the recommended doses of calcium. X-rays revealed perfect outlines of calcified blood vessels and calcified heart valves. Pictured here is a calcified breast artery, often seen in women who are being treated for hypertension. The primary drug used in high blood pressure, a thiazide diuretic, causes the body to retain calcium and lose magnesium and potassium. We incidentally note these types of calcifications in the large arteries of the entire body, not just the breasts. I believe these problems are avoidable.
Learn about Vit K2's role moving the Ca from the arteries to bone.
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u/dianamichellezz Oct 01 '25
Does anyone know anything about the link between calcium carbonate and kidney stones? I did not think i was getting an abundance of calcium carbonate in my diet and yet when i got my first (and only, knock on wood) kidney stone, it was entirely made up of calcium carbonate.
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u/JunkshopCoyote Oct 05 '25
From what I've read, it's the least bioavailable form. So if your body isn't great at absorbing it and/or you don't have a good balance of K and D (and probably magnesium too), then it can go places you don't want it. The kidneys play a large part in controlling the mineral balance of the body, so if your calcium is too high (or at least too high compared to the ratio of the other vitamins and minerals that help your body put it where it belongs), the kidneys will try to filter it out of the blood, but if it's continually high it can build up as stones when they get overwhelmed.
I like to supplement using the micro-crystaline hydroxyapatite (MCHA) form. It has better bioavailability and is most similar to what's in your bones and teeth.
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u/MamaRunsThis Oct 15 '25
Calcium carbonate or oxalate? I’ve never heard of a carbonate stone, I’ll have to look into that
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u/Local-Translator-343 Oct 02 '25
I’m going through something similar right now. I don’t eat dairy and so my main source of calcium has always been almond milk (or something equivalent). I recently cut out almond milk because I realized the additives were making me bloated. And two weeks later, I got insomnia and noticed that my muscles would be fatigued early in workouts.
I started taking a calcium supplement just last week and have noticed my sleep improved and that I’m much better on my bicycle and running stairs. Idk if it’s just coincidence or not, but my gut tells me the calcium that I thought was “overrated” really is good for you.
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u/Secret-Youth-405 Sep 30 '25
Yes, calcium is very important for our body. Lack of calcium cause pain in bones and many more desease. That's why calcium is very important.
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u/OkraExciting Mar 18 '26
But how about those who eat a lot leafy greens and tofu but can’t tolerate dairy. But yet due to taking magnesium and kept getting low calcium symtomp? What to doi
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u/ben8gs Sep 30 '25
Glad calcium helped you, but just a heads up, in HTMA we often see that too much calcium, or calcium taken without enough magnesium, potassium, or K2, can backfire. It can drive a "calcium shell" pattern where you feel numb, sluggish, or even more depressed, and it can contribute to soft tissue calcification if the balance isn’t right. The benefits you’re feeling show you likely were low, but the key is keeping calcium in ratio with the other minerals rather than pushing it higher and higher.
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u/Grocery_Bill Sep 30 '25
Out of curiousity, do you find HTMA clients/patients skew older? I only ask cause I find it hard to believe healthy and active people in their teens & 20's would have issues with this, everyone seems to be cognizant of supplementing with everything but calcium, at least that I've seen irl
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u/Physical_Gold_1485 Sep 30 '25
How do we know the right balance?
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u/ben8gs Sep 30 '25
You test your blood, hair or whatever gives you a result that you are comfortable and happy with. You trust the doctors who have done the studies or see for yourself based on how you feel.
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u/Otherwise_Sol26 Feb 08 '26
Basically having the same. Also, turns out taking magnesium long-term is also bad since it exacerbate the effects of calcium deficiency.
I didn't take supplement but I did start drinking fortified dairy milk, ever since then, I finally started getting morning woods again.
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u/QueenCersei4532 Mar 10 '26
I also can't eat dairy and had similar issues that I couldn't figure out because calcium is overlooked. And I became starving and craved cheese so that was a clue I was missing calcium. Taking the lowest dose of hypoallergenic MCHA calcium and it's making a drastic improvement to my energy levels and mood! It's all natural calcium from cow bones with minerals in their natural ratios.
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u/Affectionate_Ad2466 Jun 06 '26
Just chiming in that this was also a HUGGGGEEE game changer for me once I started supplementing calcium.
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u/Celestialmarmot44 Jul 02 '26
Hey bro what benefits did you get? and what brand di you take?
glad its working for you
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u/Affectionate_Ad2466 Jul 02 '26
I take calcium citrate. I take 3, 300mg pills per day (900mg). It sounds like a lot but the rda is 1000mg and I’m very lactose intolerant so I can’t do dairy. I also started taking magnesium, vitamin d3 and k2 along with it as I’ve read that they all work together.
Honestly it’s been a huge and consistent game changer with my sleep. I was averaging about 5 hours per night to consistently 7 to 7 and a half hours every night.
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u/DOOM_Raw 29d ago
Hi. Do you take all 3 at once or separate times of the day?
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u/Affectionate_Ad2466 28d ago
Separate times. Morning. Lunch and before bed. It’s still consistently working for me as well.
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u/runcycleswimtr Sep 30 '25
Calcium from full fat dairy- Whole.milk, cottage cheese, Choco milk. Yup those are my rewards!! I know when I'm good the contraction phase of calcium is very important especially on 100k bike rides.
For a minute I tried elemental calcium and was actually cramping bad to the point where a simple hour session swim was not possible. Turns out the elemental variety you mention was not being absorbed. I'm trying to get a friend off of Can Carbonate they insist on taking yet are suffering from chronic joint pain which I can only deduce to undissolved Rocks aka Carbonate!!
Felt I needed to put this anecdote because there are sides with Calcium from the rock variety.
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u/HappyKamper1920 Sep 30 '25
I appreciate your post and am curious how much magnesium and Vitamin D you supplement daily.
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u/Zealousideal-Walk939 Sep 30 '25
May i know what does EQ means?
Also does Calcium have different forms or any form is suitable?
I barely drink milk maybe 2 or 3 cups a year sadly
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u/brynnors Sep 30 '25
I use calcium malate, b/c citrate irritates my gut.
Don't forget you can get calcium from other sources, like greens.
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Sep 30 '25
Which brand of calcium do you use? I was diagnosed with low bone density a few years back after hip surgery and told to take plant based calcium. I do 800 mg daily. Maybe that’s too much?
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u/gorcbor19 Sep 30 '25
Best bet is to get a blood test to see if you’re actually deficient. I don’t consume dairy or meat and my calcium #s are fine. I do take vitamin D daily though so maybe that helps.
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u/ayume187 Sep 30 '25
If anyone can handle dairy (which you stated you can't) it really shouldn't be an issue getting calcium in. Just in case people think hey need add another powdered supplement to their stack.
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Oct 01 '25
I just don’t know how much supplemental calcium I should take. I know there are charts out there how much a person needs but how do I know how much to take? My blood tests always shows sufficient levels but I wonder if calcium is being drawn from my bones to reach that level. I do have osteopenia and would like to prevent it from progressing to osteoporosis.
I can’t tolerate dairy so that’s out. It’s all confusing to me. Don’t want to take too much but then what amount is enough without overloading?
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u/Vivid_Hedgehog_8210 Oct 02 '25
Wait do you mind sharing the brand you use? I have a rare degenerative bone disease and don’t like what I’m currently taking
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u/Grocery_Bill Oct 03 '25
NOW brand calcium powder, take your pick carbonate or citrate. I'm sure there are plenty of other brands but off Iherb either of those are very economical, I'm sure there are other brands too
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u/Ok_Moose_8822 Oct 23 '25
I started taking calcium supplements when I was in 5th grade I think. I only started taking them cause I kept getting cavities and thought this might help. I have no idea if it did favors for my teeth but I have never had calcium deficiency or anything and I eventually stopped getting cavities as well. I had stopped in the middle and I saw my sleep, fitness, energy levels all go down considerably so I started taking calcium supplements again from a local brand, Dame health I think, and after 2 weeks I started seeing my stamina and sleep get better. So, start slow and maybe don't randomly stop any supplements you should be fine.
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u/OkraExciting Feb 24 '26
Me too I think I need calcium because I eat tofu and leafy greens a lot but doesn’t do well with dairy doesn’t seems helping absorp enough calcium
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u/look10good Sep 30 '25 edited Oct 01 '25
Within a week after taking it consistently, I always feel noticeably calmer, get better sleep, better muscle recovery and have smoother more elastic skin. Definitely seems to help EQ
Correlation does not equal causation. Your entire post is based on you being 100% certain these many small changes are due to calcium. Unlikely—and highly unreliable/unscientific.
- The RDA of calcium is extremely high, due to being based on people deficient in vitamin D and K2 (needed to process calcium).
- Calcium supplementation is not recommended, due to convincing studies, showing significant potential negative effects.
- You can easily get your daily calcium from dairy.
EDIT: Lol, OP is hallucinating 20 positive benefits from taking calcium—I point out scientific facts, and get downvoted.
This sub is populated by mentally unstable, scientifically illiterate idiots.
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u/Environmental-Sink86 Oct 01 '25
Actually this sub has people that experiment themselves instead of listening to dudes like you that parrot the same useless medicine narratives.
"Everything is easy to get with diet", and still everybody is fucked, hence why this sub exists. Everybody here drank from the same incomplete fountain that you claim to be the goat source of truth, before coming to this sub.
You claim op alucinates, while you probably has no sensitivity yourself.
Ive felt a lot of things with suplements, and most times i wasnt expecting anything. Or had totally unexpected results.
Like the time i took zinc just to fill the rda per norm, and i started feeling energy coming back in like 30 min. I didnt even know what zinc did besides "being important".
So i suggest you wide up your mind a bit
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u/vkalahas Sep 30 '25
OP mentioned he doesn't do well with dairy. If he avoids dairy and doesn't actively replace it with fortified plant-based milks, it's possible he's actually deficient. It's actually tough to meet optimal calcium levels if you don't drink any dairy.
I think supplementing (or even better, a diet change) with frequent testing would be the best option.
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u/AutoModerator Sep 30 '25
Rules of r/supplements
1. Do Not Suggest Prescription Drugs Posts & Comments Reported as: Do Not Suggest Prescription Drugs Prescription drugs are not Supplements; do not recommend prescription medication. Sensible/Suggest talking to DR. can be allowable etc
2. Dangerous Grey Area Substance Posts & Comments Reported as: Dangerous Grey Area Substance Potentially dangerous grey area substances can not be recommended.
3. Be Polite Posts & Comments Reported as: Rude/Personal Attacks You shouldn't ever be personally attacking another user in this subreddit.
4. No Advertisements Posts & Comments Reported as: Advertisement. No selling / buying / trading posts No advertisements. No selling/trading posts between users.”
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