Balanced Cal-MagMany women find it difficult to meet their daily calcium needs through diet alone, so Dr. Weil recommends supplementing to fill in the gaps. Dr. Weil recommends 500-700 mg of supplemental calcium every day for women for a total of 1,000 to 1,200 mg from all sources, while men probably do not need to supplement, instead getting their needed 500-600 mg daily from food. Calcium in the diet plays a vital role in bone mineralization during the growth years. Even after maximum bone mass has been achieved, calcium intake continues to be important to help slow down bone loss later in life. Calcium citrate appears to be better absorbed, especially in older adults, than other forms.Magnesium is also an important mineral in the bone matrix, and should be taken with calcium to offset its constipating effect and to ensure the appropriate balance of these two key minerals in the body.'Of the many forms of calcium available, I recommend calcium citrate, because it is more easily assimilated, especially by older people with less stomach acid. Along with your calcium be sure to take half as much magnesium - without it calcium can be constipating.' - Andrew Weil, M.D.