What is the Best Plant-Based Calcium Supplement? Top Vegan Calcium Supplements for 2020
From the time you were a kid, chances are you’ve constantly heard how important calcium is for you. Many milk and yogurt products boast how much calcium they have, and everyone understands that calcium supports strong, healthy bones. Indeed, calcium is recommended if you would like to maintain general positive nutrition and bone strength, no matter what age you are.
This goes for vegans as well. Calcium is among many things that vegans should consider supplementing in order to get their recommended daily intake; because vegans cut out animal-derived products from their diets, they don’t consume traditional milk and yogurt and may find themselves suffering from a deficiency of calcium. Although some plant-based foods such as bok choy and tofu can provide calcium, vegans are well aware that meeting their calcium needs can be a struggle.
Luckily, there are many calcium supplements out there that are vegan and aim to have their calcium from plant-based sources. It isn’t necessarily difficult to get calcium that isn’t from an animal source, as long as you’re aware and are careful in picking out your product; many non-vegan calcium supplements derive their calcium from rocks like limestone. On the other hand, vegan supplements tend to get nutrients from algae and other plant-based sources. Since calcium is hard to come by through a vegan diet alone, it’s best for vegans to be aware of the best plant-based calcium supplements currently on the market to invest in.
Top 5 Vegan Calcium Supplements
How Much Calcium Do Vegans Need?
The recommended daily amount of calcium varies, according to your weight and gender. However, it’s generally agreed that both adult men and adult women need as much as 1,000mg per day. Once women reach the age of 50, they should increase this intake to 1,200mg per day, and once men reach the age of 70, they should do the same. As you get older, the density of your bones will decrease and you should continue to take supplements in order to prevent an increase in risk of getting osteoporosis.
While it may seem like the more the better, as with any supplement, you may suffer from negative side effects if you take too much calcium. Due to this, it’s best to keep track of your daily intake and make sure you are falling within the recommended daily amount. Stay within guidelines, and to be safe in general, stick to 1,000mg a day or less.
Features to Look For in a Calcium Supplement
Beyond focusing on just the amount of calcium, you should take into consideration what else you need for supplementation. For example, many vegans need vitamins and minerals in addition to their diet, and some calcium supplements offer these. Many supplements feature the vitamins D3 and K2, which also support strong and healthy bones. Also keep in mind the serving size you’re looking for, and your lifestyle. Some supplements need to be taken more than once a day, which may be difficult for you to keep up with.
To figure out which serving size you need, consider how much calcium you’re probably getting from your diet, and think about how much you should supplement. Remember to stay within the 1,000mg per day guidelines. Vitamin D is also an important aspect to look for, as this vitamin specifically helps your body absorb the calcium you need.
Best Vegan Calcium Supplement List
① Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Calcium Supplement
This calcium supplement from Garden of Life aims to provide you with all the calcium you need in a formula that includes 386mg of magnesium for additional bone strength, an enzyme and probiotic blend for digestive support, and 73 trace elements and minerals that occur naturally and have been linked to healthy bones. The 756mg of whole food plant calcium, AlgaeCal, comes in a base created from two dozen vegetables and fruit, so it’s plant-based rather than rock-sourced. Garden of Life prides itself on delivering real, whole food supplements that are raw, organic, vegan, and free of any dairy or gluten with absolutely no fillers or binders.
On top of all of this, the raw calcium supplement includes 100mcg of vitamin K2 and 1,600IU of vitamin D3, which improves your ability to absorb calcium and improves bone health overall. Garden of Life uses the MK-7 form of vitamin K2, which lasts the longest in your body. Benefits include better bone density and strength, slower bone loss, and a reduced risk of developing osteoporosis. Take four capsules daily–two with breakfast, and two again with lunch.
Pros Cons 
② Garden of Life mykind Organic Plant Calcium Vegan Whole Food Supplement
Another Garden of Life supplement, this one is also a whole food pill that’s completely vegan. It provides you with 800mg of plant-sourced calcium per serving, all from organic algae. It also includes vitamin K2 (in the MK-7 form) and vitamin D3 from lichen, as well as magnesium, all of which have been proven to help support healthy bones and help to reduce your risk of osteoporosis. The calcium comes from real food and is completely vegan friendly, as it’s sourced from more than 20 vegetables and fruits.
This calcium supplement comes in a small, easy-to-swallow form of tablets that aren’t just easy to take but also very easy to digest. It has been certified USDA organic, GMO free, and gluten free with no fillers or binders. Ingredients include algae, apples, spinach, carrot root, beet root, and the flowers and stalks from broccoli. The supplement has also been tested by third parties. For best results, take 3 tablets per day–one with each meal.
Pros Cons
③ MaryRuth Organics Organic Vegan Vitamin K2+D3 Calcium Gummies
These gummies from MaryRuth Organics are completely plant-based, organic, and vegan. They contain vitamins D3 and K2 (1000IU of D3 and 100mcg of K2) to support healthy bone health, as well as 100mg of calcium that’s derived from vegan sources. It’s a great way for both men and women and children to get the daily calcium they need to support strong bones and reduce risk for osteoporosis. The gummies feature high quality, pure ingredients, and they’re made in small batches so the flavor profile is always fresh.
MaryRuth Organics also adheres to best practices. Its facility is GMP compliant, and these gummies are not only vegan friendly but also paleo and celiac friendly. They are completely free of gelatin, nightshades, gluten, wheat, yeast, or GMOs. They’re also very low in calories at just 10 per serving, and support a healthy lifestyle in a delicious flavor that tastes like apricot and mangoes. MaryRuth is a small business and offers a 100% guarantee for your money back if you don’t like the supplement.
Pros Cons
④ Naturelo Bone Strength Plant-Based Calcium Complex
Naturelo aims to provide you with an entire calcium complex with this supplement. Its calcium is derived completely from plants, and in these pills that are free of gluten, soy, and GMOs, you’ll also find magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C in addition to vitamins D3 and K2. Overall, it’s a great whole food supplement for excellent bone health. It derives its raw calcium from red algae, vitamin D3 from lichen, and vitamin C from organic acerola cherries–so you know exactly where your vitamins and minerals are coming from. It features a complete formula that provides you with 600mg of calcium as well as seven essential vitamins and minerals, to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, promote bone density and joint health, and help to restore overall wellness.
Naturelo also aims to provide pure products. Its capsules are made from vegetable cellulose, and it doesn’t contain any caffeine, animal by products, nuts, corn, eggs, dairy, yeast, soy, gluten, GMOs, or any artificial preservatives, flavoring, or coloring. It also includes nine different nutrients that all work together to enhance your ability to absorb calcium, such as silicon, boron, potassium, zinc, and magnesium. Overall it’s a great, pure bone supplement and has been tested by third parties. Simply take two capsules in the morning, and two again in the evenings.
Pros Cons
⑤ MegaFood Calcium
This calcium supplement by MegaFood aims to promote strong and healthy bones and teeth with calcium-filled tablets that are completely vegan and free of gluten or GMOs. With organic nettle leaf and nutritional yeast for trace minerals, this supplement is all about nourishing your body. You can take it at any time of the day, with or without meals, so you don’t have to follow a certain schedule. You also only have to take one tablet a day, rather than three or four like some other supplements, and a clean list of ingredients includes simply silica, vegetable lubricant, plant cellulose, organic nettle leaf, and calcium.
MegaFood is a Certified B Corporation, meaning that it is a corporation that meets high standards of accountability and transparency, as well as environmental and social performance. It’s verified to be non GMO and certified vegan by Vegan Action. Each of its products are tested to be free of soy protein and dairy, and it’s the first supplement brand whose entire line of products has been certified to be free of glyphosate residue by The Detox Project; glyphosate is the most common herbicide in the US. Pros Cons
Conclusion & What is the Best Vegan Calcium Supplement
Just like everyone else, vegans do need to consume a regular amount of calcium and meet their recommended daily amount in order to have strong, healthy bones. While there are some calcium-rich foods that are appropriate for a vegan diet, such as tofu, bok choy, kale, and tempeh, it’s a good idea for vegans to supplement with calcium in addition to eating a healthy diet.
Keep in mind that you should stick to consuming 1,000mg of calcium per day or less. Luckily, there are many vegan calcium supplements out there that feature vegan-friendly ingredients and which derive their calcium from plant sources, such as algae. It shouldn’t be too difficult to find a supplement that adheres to your vegan lifestyle.
The best supplements will have a clean ingredient list and be organic, as well as free of gluten or GMOs. Look for companies that are completely transparent about their ingredients and practices, and which are actually certified to be vegan. Some products also include extra vitamins and minerals. Consider what you need, and take a look at the top five supplements outlined above to get started on your best vegan calcium supplement. Our favorite from the list is Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE).
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