Why is it healthier to obtain calcium through food sources rather than supplements?
Well, the absorption of calcium into your bones is a complex chemical process that requires other elements, for example magnesium. The best sources of calcium are ones that have plenty of magnesium in them as well as calcium, which mainly means green vegetables, especially spinach, brocolli, cole (cabbage) or if you dont like those, peas are fairly good too. Dairy products are actually bad sources as they dont have the correct levels of other minerals, and there is evidence to suggest they actually reduce calcium levels in your bones (the countries in the world that consume the most dairy products, e.g. Finland, have the highest incidence of osteoporosis). The digestion of animal protein makes your blood more acidic so your body leeches calcium out of your bones to neutralize it. This may also be why it is best to get your calcium from food rather than supplements – if you eat meat together with green vegetables, the calcium from the veg might neutralize the acid resulting from protein
