With so many vitamin supplements available on the market, consumers can often feel overwhelmed and might be unsure of which are most relevant to their needs.

Take, for instance, millennials, many of whom don’t realise that a calcium supplement isn’t just for their grandparents. The truth is, it’s important to meet your body’s calcium requirements in your twenties to reduce the risk of brittle bones as you age.

Give your bones an early advantage

Conventional guidelines suggest that the body only needs an additional boost once you reach a specific age and are no longer able to absorb calcium. However, it is now generally deemed prudent to support healthy bone formation early in life to establish a higher baseline for when the natural decline of bone mass begins.

That so we need to build up a good store of calcium from a young age to ensure a strong and sturdy bone structure in our golden years. Here are three crucial reasons to consider a calcium supplement if you’re a 20-something headed for the big three-oh.

1. You’re at bone-density building peak in your twenties

Your twenties are the most critical age for building strong, healthy bones, which reach their peak in terms of strength and density between the ages of 25 and 30. After that, you’re stuck maintaining the bone density you have.

If you’re in your twenties, aim to get approximately 1,000mg of calcium daily. Ideal calcium-rich food sources include:

  • Dairy
  • Leafy green vegetables
  • Seeds
  • Beans
  • Lentils

Another effective means to meet your calcium requirements is to take a calcium supplement like MenaCal.7, which helps build bone mass and assists bones to absorb calcium too.

2. Poor lifestyle habits affect bone density

You may finally be old enough to eat pizza and ice cream for breakfast and young enough not to care, but poor lifestyle choices and unhealthy eating habits tend to have detrimental consequences for your body, including your bone density!

While increasing your calcium intake or taking a calcium supplement is key, making small adjustments to your lifestyle will also serve you well later on.

Smoking and drinking excessively also causes bones to deteriorate at a faster rate than normal.

Regular exercise is essential and, like your muscles, the more you work your bones the stronger they become! Opt for high-intensity exercise and resistance training to get the best bone benefit.

3. Reduce the risk of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common condition that causes bones to become brittle and weak. It affects both men and women but is more commonly diagnosed in women over the age of 50. It is caused by not getting enough calcium before you reach the age of 30, in addition to the reasons already mentioned.

While it’s safe to say that there aren’t many young people giving much thought to the onset of osteoporosis and how to prevent it, it’s worth understanding how the choices of your 20-year-old self will impact the future you.

Remember that calcium supplements aren’t reserved for your forties and fifties – they’re crucial for building strong and healthy bones in your younger years when you need it the most.

Take a supplement like MenaCal.7 that contains K2VITAL® which is essential for the body to utilise calcium to build healthy, strong bones. K2VITAL® is engineered to keep calcium in your bones where it belongs and out of your arteries, where it can calcify and cause potential heart health risks down the line. So, start taking your body’s calcium needs more seriously before the calcium clock runs out.