How Calcium Citrate powers performance

 

An essential component of the general health of the athletic population is the condition of the skeletal system. A sufficient calcium and vitamin D intake is required for athletes to avoid osteoporosis and bone stress injuries. Together with vitamin D, calcium helps to maintain bone density, which lowers the risk of bone and muscle injuries, which are frequently made worse by strenuous activity and high-impact sports.

Due to the numerous advantages of dietary calcium, especially for bone health, sufficient daily calcium intakes, also known as Recommended Dose Intake Parameters, or RDIs, have been established. Diets frequently fall short of the suggested guidelines, especially in people with greater needs, thus high-quality supplements can assist meet the body's needs. Why is this crucial? The ability of an athlete to train at peak performance levels for frequently lengthy periods of time is a significant component of sports performance. While performance enhancement may be the main focus of most supplementation, post-performance care is just as important in ensuring that people are improving recovery protocols and not drawing resources from a depleted well, a process that is likely to result in injury down the road.

The probability of damage is greatly increased when calcium deficits are present, which means you will have less time to pursue your passions. Because deficiencies are frequently both dietary (caused by inadequate dairy consumption) and genetic/physiological (like hyperthyroidism), they frequently do not go away on their own. According to data, it's also possible for bones to become injured again after the first time (typically as a result of an underlying shortage), which emphasises the value of consuming enough calcium as a preventative and supporting supplement throughout all phases of your training programme.

Low bone mineral density can raise the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis. Inadequate calcium consumption can cause this. Despite the fact that exercise is advised to support Bone Mineral Density (BMD), high intensity exercise, particularly intense seasonal (peak season/off season) sports, can increase Parathyroid Hormone (PTH), which can cause an increase in the mobilisation of calcium from bones to the bloodstream and cause a decrease in bone density.

To assess the connection between exercise and calcium, three significant investigations were conducted[1]. The main finding of the first trial was that taking calcium supplements before to vigorous exercise reduced the activity-induced rise in PTH, potentially protecting bone density. The second study showed that the burst of bone-depleting activity brought on by endurance exercise can be inhibited by the prior intake of calcium supplements. This study studied twelve male professional athletes. The third trial, which was the final one, compared the advantages of dietary calcium versus calcium supplements in terms of BMD. According to the study's findings, increasing calcium intake through supplements raised BMD by 0.7-1.4% while increasing calcium intake through meals increased BMD by 0.6-1.0% after a year. This suggests that calcium supplements may be beneficial is not only equivalent, but superior to dietary sources.

It might be challenging to choose which calcium supplement is "best" and will eventually best meet your needs given the abundance of options on the market. With supplements, cost frequently has a significant influence. However, while taking calcium supplements, the form is more crucial to take into account than the price or even the quantity of calcium. This is because different calciums have different properties. The characteristics and chemical composition of various calcium preparations vary, affecting solubility and subsequently bioavailability as well as tolerance.

The main component of PILLAR's ELITE CALCIUM, which includes 1376 mg of calcium citrate tetrahydrate, is calcium citrate, one of the most easily absorbed and well tolerated forms of calcium (equivalent to 290mg of elemental calcium).

Calcium carbonate, another common form of calcium available on the market, has larger levels of elemental calcium but must be consumed with food and requires stomach acid for absorption. This is both annoying, especially for athletes who have strict food regimens, and it frequently leads to gastrointestinal trouble, including moderate constipation or a bloated feeling. Because calcium citrate is more quickly absorbed than calcium carbonate and can be eaten on an empty stomach without experiencing any discomfort, it is the better option when made in an appropriate quantity.

The inclusion of Vitamin K in PILLAR's ELITE CALCIUM sets it apart from other dietary supplements on the market. Although calcium advantages are substantial, some studies advise care when contemplating supplementation due to potential cardiovascular consequences, such as potential artery hardening. Vitamin K, particularly as vitamin K2, is almost nonexistent even in a healthy western diet. But that problem is resolved by a combination of high-quality calcium and vitamin K2, which encourages improved distribution throughout the body and increases arterial flexibility by reducing calcium buildup in the cardiovascular system. [2] Thus, calcium and vitamin K2 work best together to provide the benefits for strong bones while lowering the risk of heart disease.