Wholefood Calcium

Wholefood Calcium is a natural multimineral seaweed product, harvested from Atlantic waters off Ireland’s southwest coast. It is an organic, wholefood product with no additives.

The seaweed which produces Wholefood Calcium is called lithothamnium calcareum. This is a small, red seaweed composed of a whole array of essential nutrients in a highly bioavailable form, including high levels of calcium, magnesium, boron and zinc. The waters from which this seaweed is harvested are some of the cleanest and purest in the world, and hence there is no risk of heavy metals or pollutants.

Wholefood Calcium carries Organic Trust Certification at source and each capsule yields 200mg elemental organic calcium plus 74 other trace minerals.

What is Calcium?
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and the fifth most abundant substance overall. About 99% is deposited in the bones and the teeth. The remaining 1% is involved in the soft tissues, intracellular fluids and blood. Calcium is used in the development and maintenance of bone structure and rigidity. It functions in the clotting process, nerve transmission and muscle stimulation, parathyroid hormone function and the metabolism of vitamin D. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the bones is 2.5 to 1. To function properly, calcium must be accompanied by magnesium, phosphorus and vitamins A, C, D and E. Bone stability requires vitamin A, magnesium and fluoride. Calcium is absorbed into the body with the help of vitamin D (the best source of which is sunlight). About one hour of sunlight per month on the hands and face has been shown to provide most people with sufficient active vitamin D. Throughout life, like most tissues, bones are constantly being reformed, losing and gaining calcium. As such, it is necessary to maintain calcium intake levels and a reasonable absorption of calcium to maintain bone integrity. It is not enough to only increase calcium later in life to help prevent osteoporosis. The other components required to help the body absorb calcium are also needed. Excessive deficiency of magnesium inhibits bone formation due to its close relationship with calcium, but at the right levels, magnesium will encourage the formation of bones. The balance between these two minerals is crucial, and is reflected in their effect on muscles. Calcium stimulates muscles, whereas magnesium relaxes them. An excess of calcium produces symptoms that resemble magnesium deficiency.
Best Natural Sources
In general, rich sources include low fat dairy products, dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, canned fish with bones, cottage cheese, cooked dried beans, peas, tofu,
grains, brown rice, seeds (sesame, sunflower), nuts (hazel, almond, Brazil, walnut, pistachio) and seaweeds (hijiki, wakame, kelp, kombu, kale and spirulina).
Absorption and Storage
Absorption takes place in the duodenum and ceases in the lower part of the intestinal tract, when the food content becomes alkaline. It is more effective to take calcium in smaller doses several times a day. Many other factors influence the amount of calcium stored. When in need, the body absorbs calcium more effectively. Therefore, the greater the need and the smaller the dietary supply, the greater the absorption. Absorption also depends on the presence of adequate amounts of vitamin D, which works with the parathyroid hormone to regulate the amount of calcium in the blood.
Phosphorus is also associated with calcium, as they are used together to give strength to bones. The body uses calcium and phosphorus together to give firmness to bones. If excess of either is taken, the body cannot use it; therefore, large doses of either are not helpful to the body.
Supplemental calcium bio-availability is variable; ingesting calcium in our Wholefood formulation can improve uptake and utilisation.
Certain substances interfere with the absorption of calcium. When excessive amounts of fat, protein or sugar combine with free calcium, an insoluble compound is formed which cannot be absorbed. Oxalic acid, found in chocolate, rhubarb, soya beans, almonds, beet greens, cashews and kale, hinders calcium absorption. Other interfering factors include lack of exercise, physical and emotional stress, excitement, depression and too rapid a flow of food through the intestinal tract. However, by taking calcium in a food matrix, you will always ensure the maximum possible uptake at any point in time.
RDA
The RDA for calcium is 800mg. Increased amounts are needed during pregnancy and lactation, and post-menopausal women are thought to need greater amounts.
The average British diet yields 800mg calcium/day (data from Council for Responsible Nutrition), so most people only need to take extra calcium when they fall into an extra needs group.

Suggested Intake: 1-2 capsules daily, or take as directed by a practitioner.
Suitable for: Vegetarians, vegans and for people with Candida and yeast sensitivities.
Contraindications: None.
Non-Active Ingredients: Vegetable cellulose (capsule shell).
Non GM & Free From: wheat; starch, gluten; lactose; added colourings, sweeteners & preservatives.
Storage: Keep cool, dry & out of direct sunlight.