The rhyme goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones”, but neglecting bone health is far more likely to lead to brittle bones. As our bones reach maximum density at the age of 30, we start to lose bone mass at a faster rate. Lack of proper calcium supplementation can lead to diseases such as osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, hypertension, arthritis, rickets, hypocalcaemia and even cardiac arrhythmia. These conditions affect everyone from the very young to the old, and even the seemingly healthy.
International Osteoporosis Foundation revealed in 2010 that 1 in 3 Singaporeans above the age of 35 are at risk of developing osteoporosis. Asia will see over half of the world’s osteoporosis fractures by 2050. Neither is osteoporosis simply a “woman’s disease”. Often under diagnosed in men, both genders actually lose bone mass at the same rate by about 65 to 70 years of age. According to the Health Promotion Board, the average Singaporean receives less than 70% of their daily calcium requirement through their diet. Consuming supplements is hence the only way to increase calcium intake. The elderly are also likely to use medications that may impair calcium absorption. Additional intake is thus even more important for seniors.
So are you taking enough calcium? Here’s how much calcium we need at the different life stages:
Looking for the right source of calcium? We found the only organic milk supplement in the market, OMICAL, which might be the closest-to-natural way to top up your daily calcium levels. There are 7 reasons why OMICAL is our choice:
While some medical professionals would recommend obtaining calcium straight from the source, a recent report by the Harvard School of Public Research stated that high intake might instead increase the risk of prostate cancer and possibly ovarian cancer. Dairy can also be high in saturated fat and retinol, which at above recommended levels could conversely weaken bones. Furthermore, 90% of Asians are lactose intolerant to some degree, which makes milk consumption less favourable. With OMICAL, which is derived from pure milk, you get all the nutrients from milk without the fat, steroids, antibiotics and hormones.
In another report on calcium supplements, Dr Jimmy Gutman, MD, highlights, “Some sources [of calcium] include crushed up horse bones or even crushed up oyster shells, both of which carry potential contamination with toxic substances like lead or mercury.” Unlike these calcium supplements, OMICAL has no trace of toxic metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic, as confirmed through a laboratory test by the Health Science Authority.
Get the goodness of milk in one small tablet now, OMICAL is available at leading pharmacies Guardian, Watsons, Unity and Mustafa, as well as selected independent retailers. The recommended retail price is $31.90 for a bottle of 60 tablets.