The Facts on Calcium Calcium is essential to maintain total body health. Your body needs it everyday not just to keep your bones and teeth strong, but to ensure proper functioning of muscles and nerves. Teeth and bones contain about 99% of the body's calcium and are dependent upon calcium for strength and structure. The remaining 1% is circulated in the bloodstream and helps your blood clot. Most people think they are getting enough calcium everyday, but the fact is, they are not - they're calcium deficient. You must absorb calcium every day from your diet because your body does not produce it. When your body does not have enough calcium, it breaks down bone to obtain calcium. When sufficient calcium is supplied through the diet, it is returned to the bones. The average person loses 400 to 500 mg of calcium per day. If an individual's diet is low in calcium, there may not be sufficient amounts available in the blood to be returned to the bones to maintain strong bones and total body health. Calcium & Magnesium FAQs 1. Why should we take a calcium/magnesium supplement? Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth, healthy nerve transmission, to lower cholesterol and to reduce muscle cramps. 2. What are symptoms of calcium/magnesium deficiencies? Symptoms of calcium/magnesium deficiencies are brittle nails, eczema, elevated blood cholesterol, heart palpitations, insomnia, muscle cramps and nervousness. People diagnosed with osteoporosis and hypertension, athletes and women in menopause greatly benefit from calcium/magnesium supplementation. 3. How is the Matol Calcium & Magnesium supplement superior to other calcium/magnesium supplements on the market? The Matol Calcium/Magnesium liquid supplement is superior to other calcium supplement because: a) its liquid form ensures an immediate and far greater absorption rate than in tablet form; b) calcium carbonate, the largest source of calcium in our formula, has the  most concentrated elemental calcium available with twice as much elemental calcium by weight as calcium citrate and calcium lactate; and c) the quality and quantity of the added nutrients in our formula: magnesium oxide and citrate help the absorption of calcium; zinc citrate aids in tissue formation, helps the body metabolize proteins, fats and carbohydrates and helps the formation of collagen; and vitamin D helps in the normal development and maintenance of bones and teeth and also assists in the absorption of calcium. 4. Is calcium citrate a higher quality calcium source than calcium carbonate? No, calcium citrate is not of higher quality than calcium carbonate. It is, however, the preferred calcium source for the small number of individuals who have no stomach acid (achlorhydria). The majority of people have a normal pH and for them, calcium carbonate has been proven to have a superior absorption rate than calcium citrate. Calcium carbonate also has twice as much elemental calcium by weight as calcium citrate. The term ‘elemental’ calcium refers to the available calcium in a supplement. For example, calcium carbonate has 40% elemental calcium so 1,250 mg of calcium carbonate provides 500 mg elemental calcium. 5. What is the quantity of elemental calcium in the Matol Calcium & Magnesium formula?   Type of Calcium mg/15 mL elemental calcium  (% of the total 300 mg) mg elemental calcium  Calcium Carbonate 645 40%  258 (86%0 Calcium Lactate 219 13.7%  30 (10%) Calcium Citrate 57 21%  12 (4%)   6. Please confirm the source(s) of calcium in our calcium formula? The source of our Matol Calcium & Magnesium liquid supplement is from limestone for the carbonate, citrus fruit for the calcium citrate and the calcium lactate is derived from a fermentation of lactic acid and good bacteria, as used in yogurts. 7. What are the advantages of these sources over other sources of calcium? All of these sources are natural. The Matol Calcium & Magnesium formula provides the widest range of absorption, adapted to every consumer. 8. How can we reassure our clients that our Matol Calcium & Magnesium supplement is mercury-free? Calcium carbonate is extracted from limestone, a rock containing principally calcium carbonate with varying amounts of alumina, silica, iron, calcium and magnesium carbonates or oxides. Limestone is found on the sea floor. The calcium carbonate is purified from limestone and must comply to the USP (United States Pharmacopea) standards, recognized worldwide. These standards stipulate that in calcium carbonate, heavy metals must be lower than 20 ppm (parts per million) and mercury content lower than 0.5 ppm. 9. When is it best to take our calcium supplement? It is best to take it twice a day, preferably at night as it enhances sleep.    If on medication, calcium should be taken two (2) hours before or 4 (four) hours after, so as not to compromise the efficiency of the medication, or as prescribed by your physician. 10. Can someone ingest too much calcium? Yes, more than 2000 mg per day of calcium can lead to kidney damage. 11. Are there any side effects associated to a calcium supplement? Occasionally, individuals beginning calcium supplementation report bloating or gas. It is usually temporary. 12. According to the recommended dosage on the label, one would have to buy 1.8, or two bottles of Matol Calcium/Magnesium supplement, per person, per month, in order to follow the recommended dosage on our label. Is that correct? Yes. 13. Are there any contra-indications to Calcium & Magnesium, as a supplement? Anyone who has kidney malfunction should not take a calcium supplement. Pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding should consult their doctor prior to use. If you are taking Tetracyclines, consult your doctor, prior to use. If on any type of medication, consult your doctor prior to use.  If it is recommended for you, Matol Calcium/Magnesium supplement should be taken two (2) hours before or 4 (four) hours after, so as not to compromise the efficiency of the medication, or as prescribed by your physician. Although calcium carbonate is extracted from sea bottom, calcium carbonate USP, purified so as not to contain any allergy-causing particulates, and no case of allergy has been reported to date, we do not recommend the use of Matol Calcium/Magnesium, if a person is allergic to shellfish because, unfortunately, the source of calcium carbonate and the risk of allergies are so deeply engrained in mentalities. Note that it is not recommended to take calcium at the same time as iron, as it reduces the effect of both minerals. 14. Why are Methylparaben and Propylparaben used? Methylparaben and Propylparaben are the only preservatives suitable to the pH of our calcium/magnesium formula. According to Dr. Kristine Clark, the amount of preservatives in our formula is so minute that even if someone took it for the rest of their life, that under no circumstances would they be  putting themselves at risk of overexposure to a toxic level. 15. Why is a liquid calcium supplement better than tablets? A liquid formula ensures immediate and far greater absorption rate, compared to tablets. Tablets can stay in the intestinal tract and need far more acid to be absorbed than what is required for a liquid supplement. As well, liquid formulas are minus chemical coatings, such as BHA, BHT, Propylgalat and Maltodextrin, used as binding agents in tablets. 16. What is the recommended dosage for children under 9 years of age? Calcium supplements are not recommended for children under 9 years old, unless prescribed by a doctor. 17. Why is sorbitol used in the Matol Calcium & Magnesium supplement? Sorbitol is used in our formula as a sweetener. It is a sugar usually found in nature, such as in fruit berries, and unlike other sugars, it may reduce the risk of dental cavities. Sorbitol is lower in calories than other sweeteners, such as sucrose and honey. 18. What robs our body of calcium? Junk foods, refined foods, alcohol, red meats, excess salt: all of these rob our body of calcium. 19. How long does it take for calcium to be fully absorbed by the body? Absorption of minerals, including calcium, depends on many factors: age, sex, health condition, food condition, food consumption, daily intakes, etc. No one absorbs minerals at the same rate. Furthermore, it is well known that certain nutrients interact with each other to alter the minerals’ bioavailability. For all those reasons, the rate of absorption cannot measured. The important thing to remember is that liquid calcium/magnesium supplements, such as Matol’s own, are far more assimilable by the organism than solid calcium/magnesium supplements.