In this article, I’m going to show you the Difference Between Vitamin D and Calcium, and all the differences you need to know about them.
What is the Difference Between Vitamin D and Calcium?
You might think that vitamin D and calcium are two of the same, but that’s far from the truth! Although they sound like they should be interchangeable, these two vitamins have different functions, and you might be putting your health at risk if you take too much or too little of one or both.
Here’s the difference between vitamin D and calcium so you can avoid dummies’ mistakes and make smart decisions about how to improve your diet and overall health.
What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in bone health. It’s synthesized by your body after exposure to sunlight and can also be found in certain foods (like fish).
The recommended daily intake of vitamin D for adults is 600 IU per day, though some studies suggest even higher amounts may be necessary for optimal health. We actually get far less sun exposure than our ancestors did as we spend most of our time indoors under artificial light.
What Is Calcium?
It is well known that calcium plays an important role in our bodies. But what is calcium exactly? While you may know that it’s an essential nutrient, most people don’t know much beyond that. So let’s clear up some confusion.
Calcium is one of four major minerals found in your body (the others are phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium). About 99 percent of your body’s calcium supply resides in your bones and teeth where it helps to build strong structures.
The remaining 1 percent of calcium circulates through your bloodstream where it performs many functions such as regulating muscle contraction, transmitting nerve impulses, and helping to maintain normal heart rhythm.
How Are They Similar?
Though calcium and vitamin D share several similarities, they are different vitamins. Both are essential nutrients that play important roles in bone development.
To be clear, vitamin D is fat-soluble whereas calcium is water-soluble. So what does that mean? Because it’s fat-soluble, vitamin D is more likely to build up in your system as compared to calcium since there’s no place for it to dissolve if you consume too much of it.
It also means that excess vitamin D will simply get stored in your body rather than being excreted out. This isn’t true with calcium because it dissolves easily. Since calcium is water-soluble, excess amounts will simply leave your body through urine or sweat.
Who Should Take This Stuff?
One of the most common questions about vitamins is: Should I take them? The answer is yes if you want to feel better. And there are lots of reasons why you might.
Perhaps you’re tired all day long, or you don’t have as much energy as you’d like during workouts. Maybe your moods are more volatile than they used to be, or perhaps your immune system could use some help keeping germs at bay.
Or maybe it’s none of those things but rather something just not right that you can’t quite put your finger on. If any of these issues sound familiar, chances are good that taking vitamins could make a difference in how you feel, and if not today then in time with consistent use.
Should I Take Both Vitamins?
Many people believe they are getting enough calcium because they take a daily vitamin that contains calcium. In reality, most of these vitamins contain calcium carbonate, which is often not well absorbed by our bodies.
There is also no evidence that taking both vitamins
Calcium and vitamin D at once will be any more beneficial than taking them separately. You should avoid multivitamins that contain phosphorus because too much of it can lead to kidney damage or an increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
So Do I Need Vitamins or Not?
Everyone knows that vitamins help your body. But do you need to be taking vitamins? And what are you supposed to look for when buying them? Let’s take a look at how vitamin supplements can benefit your health, as well as what to avoid when purchasing them.
Why Do People Take Too Much of These Supplements?
Many of us take calcium or vitamin D supplements. The former is important for our bones, but it can also be dangerous if you take too much. If you’re taking vitamin D supplements for your bones (and most people are) make sure not to exceed 4,000 IU per day.
If you have cancer, osteoporosis, or other diseases that weaken bones, then double that amount. Finally, keep in mind that most multivitamins contain 600 IU of vitamin D which is probably plenty.
So What’s the Bottom Line on Vitamins Then?
Vitamin D is actually more of a hormone that helps your body absorb calcium. Taking calcium without it can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis because there’s no vitamin d to help your body absorb it.
If you already have osteoporosis, you’ll need both and higher doses at that. It’s not just for fun; it’s for your health.
what is the difference between vitamin d and calcium?
vitamin d vs calcium: So The main difference between vitamin d and calcium is that vitamin d helps with the absorption of calcium.
while calcium directly contributes to bone health by strengthening it, vitamin d also contributes indirectly to bone health by increasing calcium absorption in our bodies.
If you are not getting enough sun exposure or if you have dark skin, then you should supplement your diet with vitamin-d-rich foods or take a supplement containing vitamin-d because your body will not be able to absorb enough calcium without it.
This post was about the Difference Between Vitamin D and Calcium, also you may like to know the Differences Between Vitamin B6 and B12.