Q. Because of my severe food allergies, I need to know if there are any dairy products, corn, soy, wheat or yeast products present in Chelated Cal-Mag?

A. Neither of GNLD’s Chelated Cal-Mag products contain any dairy products, corn, soy, wheat, or yeast products.

Q. Is the "natural color" listed in Cal-Mag added color, or the natural color of the ingredients?

A. The natural color used in both Cal-Mag products is carmine, a pure, natural color also known as Cochineal. Carmine is widely used in the nutrition industry for its rich color for decades.

Q. Where or what is calcium glycinate?

A. Calcium glycinate is the result of GNLD’s unique chelation process, the natural amino acid glycine is combined with a calcium carbonate. GNLD’s high-quality chelated minerals set the industry's gold standard for mineral supplementation.

A. GNLD’s Chelated Cal-Mag is formulated with magnesium because magnesium is directly related to efficient calcium utilization. Chelated Cal-Mag contains magnesium glycinate (made from the natural amino acid glycine), and recent studies show this is the best formulation for absorption. There are many health benefits associated with magnesium. For example, magnesium is required for the most important enzymes that form DNA. Also, magnesium has been shown to play an important role in regulating the cardiovascular system and muscle contraction.

It is known that stress depletes the body’s supply of magnesium, and researcher are now trying to determine if that depletion leads to a contraction of blood vessels, producing hypertension. Cal-Mag is one of the most valuable supplements available today, offering the benefits of two minerals that can dramatically influence overall health.

The SAB determined that a 2-to-1 ratio would provide the user with optimum amounts of these two very important minerals, since many individuals not only fail to receive sufficient calcium on a consistent basis, but even fewer receive adequate magnesium.

Q. Why does Cal-Mag have such a low amount of calcium in it?

A. Many of our Distributors and their customers consume calcium-rich diets, Chelated Cal-Mag is an exceptional product for those who wish to supplement their diets with a few hundred milligrams of calcium each day and ensure they receive an optimum amount of calcium and magnesium.

Chelated Cal-Mag is an excellent source of supplemental dietary calcium. It is a calcium and magnesium supplement, at a 2-to-1 ratio. In addition, these minerals are chelated to maximize absorption. The combination of calcium, magnesium and the amino acid glycine necessary for chelation takes up quite a lot of room, so the mineral potency per tablet is lower than a supplement such as Neo-Cal, which is primarily a calcium supplement and not chelated.

Q. What is the difference between Cal Mag tablets and Cal Mag capsules?

A. Both tablets and capsules contain 100 mg of calcium plus 50 mg of magnesium; the difference is the capsule contains 400 IU of vitamin D₃ per serving while the tablet now contains 1000 IU of vitamin D₃ per serving.

Both Chelated Cal-Mag products use the unique amino acid chelated form of calcium for improved absorption. Either product is a perfect way to supplement the body with the extra calcium needed. Three capsules provide 30% of the U.S. RDA.

Q. I read that calcium carbonate is the least bioavailable. If this is true, why do we use it in our supplements?

A. Contrary to what you read, calcium carbonate is highly bioavailable. And GNLD products have been formulated to maximize bioavailability. We chose calcium carbonate because it is a superior, organically-derived source of calcium. It consistently provides a high degree of purity in a form that tends to be more readily soluble to improve absorption by the body. Also, calcium carbonate is an excellent natural source of calcium which delivers the most calcium per unit of weight of raw material.

It is important to know that bioavailability is not easily measured. The testing is involved, expensive, and in the case of radioactive measures, dangerous. GNLD uses both disintegration and dissolution testing to calculate bioavailability. This approach, which employs rigorous, standardized USP testing procedures, has been well correlated with bioavailability. The disintegration and dissolution of all GNLD’s calcium products has been shown to exceed the USP standard for dissolution time. Additionally, we routinely perform tablet dissolution and tablet disintegration tests as part of our quality control process. It is for these reasons that you can be sure that the calcium in GNLD’s products is superior and highly bioavailable.

Q. Is there any difference in dissolution time between the capsules and tablets? Do Cal-Mag tablets have greater bioavailability than the capsules? If so, how much?

A. Any difference in bioavailability between Cal-Mag tablets and Cal-Mag capsules would be insignificant. Both products exceed the standard of 75% dissolution 30 minutes after ingestion. That standard insures that a product will be "bio-available" throughout its transit through the digestive tract.

Q. Do any of our products contain coral calcium? What is coral calcium exactly and how does it compare to our calcium products?

A. None of GNLD's products contain Coral calcium. Coral calcium is not a source of calcium normally found inside the human food chain. There are also several safety issues, as some of the natural components of coral are toxic to humans.

Coral calcium is sourced from coral reefs. If sourced from living coral reefs, this poses a huge problem to the eco-system, as the world’s coral reefs contribute greatly to the earth’s well being in many aspects, from providing shorelines with protection by breaking waves, to regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

Q. Is the best time to take calcium before sleeping or with food?

A. Calcium absorption is influenced by many factors, varying from one person (or even one day) to the next. If conditions are correct, calcium can be well absorbed both when taken with food and at bedtime. Nevertheless, there are a few general guidelines that may be helpful to ensure maximum calcium uptake by the body. First and foremost, the body must have sufficient levels of vitamin D in order to absorb calcium. Although vitamin D need not be taken in conjunction with calcium, a vitamin D deficiency will greatly diminish calcium absorption. GNLD also recommends taking calcium supplements (as with all of GNLD’s supplements) with meals, in small doses throughout the day, to better ensure maximum absorption. Studies have demonstrated that if large amounts of supplemental calcium are ingested in a single dose, the percentage of actual absorption by the body greatly diminishes. Therefore, it would be beneficial to take calcium supplements in small increments throughout the day.

Several factors can also interfere with calcium absorption. Certain foods containing oxalic acid such as spinach and Swiss chard can inhibit calcium absorption by binding with calcium and forming an insoluble compound. A diet high in saturated fat can also affect absorption. Fat binds with calcium and forms insoluble soaps. This process known as "saponification" also renders calcium insoluble; it is simply excreted through the digestive tract. Consequently, while there is no specific advantage to calcium absorption while sleeping, bedtime supplementation is a good way to avoid food combinations that may limit calcium absorption.

Lastly, some people who suffer from night leg cramps find taking calcium at bedtime relieves that problem. GNLD Calcium supplements are perfect for that use as well.