How do you keep track of your daily calcium intake?

@laren3 Keep an eye on what NIH finds. My understanding is that they both work and slightly different manners. This is just a quick Google search, so dig deeper into sources, etc. See the attached picture.

I’ve been all over the map when it comes to calcium intake and supplements. When I was first diagnosed with osteopenia in 2014, I started taking 1500 mg daily (Solaray Cal-Mag 1:1) and did that for several years. My calcium intake was through the roof as I was also consuming calcium intake my diet. I cut back to 1000 mg a day a few years later after learning about concerns for heart health.

I continued on with 1000 mg daily in supplements plus dietary calcium for many years after that. It’s only recently that I cut out all calcium supplementation after my endocrinologist recommended that I get 800 to 1000 in my diet, which I was easily doing by eating yogurt and drinking milk. These days, I do not take a calcium supplement and tend to get 600 to 1200 through my diet, depending on what I eat that day.

In the end, I don’t think that the supplementation prevented my decline into osteoporosis over the years, or my fracture in late 2023. I have an underlying condition called hypercalciuria that causes excessive loss of calcium in my urine.

I now strive to eat calcium rich foods and not to worry about how much I consume in a single day. Eliminating one supplement has been nice and also good for my pocketbook.

@doglover1962
I’ve learned that just tracking calcium intake is not enough. One has to also look at calcium absorption. I was surprised to learn that prolonged use of Psyllium (found in products like Metamucil) can interfere with calcium absorption. I don’t know how long is “prolonged” use.

@jeanmanning I would also learn about this to.
Thank you

Me too. How much. And of course different reasons why it gets absorbed and not. Our body’s are just so complicated and we are all different. But it’s nice to network and share what works best and to compare I like the ideas

I put a quarter of a teaspoon of salt in a plate at the beginning of the day and take three pinches for each of my four meals, none of my food has salt in it so I know that's the sodium I'm getting and it's low because I make kidney stones. I'm very careful eating mostly vegan just two ounces of chicken per day, as I have IBS and an esophajectomy and reflux so must eat alkaline foods. i have many food intolerances so eat a low fodmap diet and now will start iron today with one meal with colace and hope my ferritin level goes up, all the other scores are fine. I had to take a reclast infusion due to osteoporosis and hope with my exercising and calcium citrate powder at 3 of my four meals will improve my bone density . I work with a nutritionist doctor who is great-a half hour every two weeks on face time and unlimited texts. She is brooke.bussard at gmail.com She is my 5th nutritionist and well worth the money which I am not covered for. I'm high anxious and hope my experience helps you. I'm 7 years post cancer surgery.

@jeanmanning
THIS!
My one appointment with an endocrinologist hurt more than helped because she emphasized eating almonds as a Calcium source. And I followed that direction too closely! My last Calcium level was flagged as low. I didn’t know anything about Oxalates which reduce Calcium absorption. Now I avoid almonds. I was also eating a lot of spinach after my hip surgery because I was anemic and wanted more iron. Spinach is a major oxalate. I think I’m going to cut back on the dairy which I’ve been eating a lot of (which can be inflammatory) and just take my 1,000 mg. Of Calcium at least until my level increases. Just watched this excellent presentation from Osteo Boston on Calcium levels and parathyroid issues and learned so much:

@cliffdweller

Collier, thank you!