Did you know that April is Bone Care Month ?

And did you also know that the amount of sunshine an average person gets is a little over two hours a WEEK without any sunscreen and no ray-absorbing clothing ? 

Well this information made me jump for joy and wring my hands at the same time, because what I know about supplements, diet, food/mood journaling and keeping myself fit is what I always like to share with people who read Epinions for more than shopping advice.

Many of you probably know, and for those newbies reading that do not, when I started my new career in the middle of Spring 1992, my life and perspective of how I was going to maintain its optimal functioning of body, mind and spirit, was transformed. Some of the elements of the transformation were for the better; while some were not. I was quite grateful after working for five doctors in a group practice to gain traditional and conventional knowledge of the health care industry.

The different venues used to treat any condition in the cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology, general surgery and otolaryngology fields of medicine and then after leaving that structured atmosphere went off on my own. I incorporated homeopathic solutions to problems that crept up between my mid-twenties to late thirties that needed more than just synthetic FDA-approved means to fix and I was not fond of a scalpel to remove what dysfunction was presenting difficulty in me maintaining a homeostasis between body systems.

The product Spring Valley- Calcium with Vitamin D 600 mg, 250 count is one of the less complicated parts of my daily regimen to remember and take when my diet lacks the necessary bone-strengthening agents as it is a big bottle, usually on the counter reminding someone to take their dosage today.

With no gas, bloating or complications in texture and exiting of fecal matter, at less than recommended dosage, I appreciate the ease and fast absorption of this necessary supplement and am confident my bone density stays maximized.

Now on with my intensive review . . .

|| ALLERGY NOTE ||

Calcium is not in abundance by those who cannot tolerate lactose (a double sugar or disaccharide) so if an allergy to lactose is known, then adopt the vegetable route and get your calcium from foods like beans, cauliflower, chard, kale, molasses and rhubarb.

Those are the most concentrated & excellent sources of calcium while these below are just good sources: almonds, beets, bran, cabbage, carrots, celery, chocolate, dates, figs, kohlrabi, lemons, lettuce, oranges, oysters, parsnips, pineapples, raspberries, rutabagas, shellfish, spinach, turnips, walnuts and watercress.

There is good news if you suffer from gluten allergies YOU CAN take these because there is none. Again I urge you, before starting any supplemental regimen, talk to your doctor, please even if I do not have one nor believe in the conventional methods of the average doctor practicing medicine today, talk to someone besides me, if you are still uncertain.

|| ABSORPTION/ ASSIMILATION ||

Spring Valley Calcium plus Vitamin D 600 mg, 250 Coated Tablets (Schiff) work quickly and absorb quite well into the blood stream after going through the stomach and being un-scathed by the highly corrosive hydrochloric acid in that stomach. It is solid but will dissolve should you still feel intimidated by its size.

|| APPEARANCE and Info || (taken from packaging)

The bottle is rather large but made of green plastic that features a PETE Triangle with a number one in it stamped into the bottom. It means it is recyclable but to what degree and where to recycle it is beyond my knowledge for this product. The tablet inside is oblong and slender and very shiny-smooth that goes down with water, milk or juice easily.

It has a yellow label chock full of supplement facts, what is NOT in here (gluten, lactose, preservatives or artificial flavor), a Quality Assurance Guarantee symbol, Ingredients, a phone number in case you have questions and the medical relationship between the integument system and vitamins, specifically your skin and the absorption of vitamin d to assure calcium is being properly administered throughout the body.

Oh and of course all statements for health on this bottle regarding dosing, precautions and benefits have NOT been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, therefore it is not approved either. “This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease” (which is somewhat b.s. in my opinion).

|| DOSAGE ||

Recommended is 2 tablets per day but split between meals, meaning one after lunch and then one after dinner instead of two BEFORE any breakfast, lunch or dinner. .

|| ELIMINATION ||

There is no color change in urine or BM’s after a week of taking Spring Valley- Calcium with Vitamin D 600 mg, 250 count if you are drinking plenty of fluids containing at least 70% water and the least amount of sugar or high fructose corn syrup. I do find after two months of taking this non-liquid tablet, stools are a little more difficult to pass, so I take the liqui-caps alternating regularly with what my diet takes in.

|| HISTORY ||

Spring Valley has been a trusted brand name in America for decades; while in this household less than one decade. The quality ingredients, no artificial dyes or toxic additives make this customer very satisfied. The company leads distributors #1 for brand and off-brand vitamins and supplements and herbs and alternative treatment medicines. Schiff is the manufacturer and Perrigois the distribution center.

|| INGREDIENTS ||

Although the ingredients in most foods prepared or processed do change periodically and I encourage reading labels and checking into stuff but the staple ingredients in Spring Valley Vitamins and Supplements are generally the same in every bottle of said product.

In this Spring Valley Calcium plus Vitamin D 600mg, 250 Coated Tablets (Schiff) Dietary Supplement there are two Active Ingredients shown for 2 servings: Cholecalciferol which is Vitamin D= 800IU (200%) and Calcium Carbonate= 1.2grams (1200mg) (120%).

There are approximately 125 servings per container since there are 250 tablets in the bottle. (I take 2 every four days or one for three days alternating between night and day dosing and which days so the maintenance amount is regulated daily.

I appreciate no additives, 100% naturally derived vitamin elements and even the Inactive Ingredients like: Maltodextrin, Powdered Cellulose, Hypromellose, Mineral Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Triethyl Citrate, Polysorbate 80, Carnauba Wax, Stearic Acid, Magnesium Stearate & Crospovidone are NOT toxic when synthesized.

If you are curious what the inactive ingredients are, I’ll tell you.

Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide which means after accepting hydrogen particles into its atomic structure, the two simple sugars resulting from the carbohydrates you eat, offer quicker absorption and transfer of energy.

Powdered Cellulose is also a polysaccharide structured in a linear fashion making up tens of thousands of simple sugars like glucose. This particular added ingredient is derived from pant membranes which make up the cellular walls of any plant on this planet. Its structure is highly absorbable and easy to digest, its plant protein not animal.

Hypromellose is a thickening agent but normally used in ophthalmic solutions as a stabilizer; however in my vitamin I am not so sure I need this. It is an inert semi-synthetic produced element that is not toxic yet does react briskly to oxidizing agents.

The Mineral oil is unspecified yet acts as a buffer making the powdery calcium, easier to swallow without getting stuck in the epiglottis. The Titanium Dioxide in here is really used to prevent harmful rays of the sun that when reduced amounts of Vitamin D in the body can manifest itself into various dermatological problems; therefore taking this if you don’t get enough natural sunlight, is great during those S.A.D.D moments . . .

Triethyl Citrate is the coating used in pharmaceutical preparations such as these ‘easy-to-swallow- Calcium tablets. The citrate is an ester of citric acid.

Polysorbate 80 is a nonionic surface agent made from esters of sorbitol and contains associated fatty acids. This is used in the pharmaceutical industry as a preparatory element before solidifying the materials together forming a whole tablet.

Carnauba Wax is derived from the palm leaf and is highly effective in giving a ‘sheen’ to the product it touches or coats. It is non-toxic and used for a number of products from dental floss to floor shines.

Stearic Acid is derived from the greek word ‘steatos’ which means tallow but is actually a fatty acid with an 18 link chain of carbon saturating it. It is also non-toxic. The Magnesium Stearate is a salt and is “considered safe for human consumption at levels below 2500 mg/kg per day” which is why this vitamin is only 600mg utilizing only a tenth of the MS in the entire bottle.

Finally the last ingredient, Crospovidone, which is not toxic when orally ingested but dangerous if the pill is pulverized added to other synthetic chemicals and injected, this is when this particular added ingredient becomes deadly, otherwise the hydrochloric acid in your stomach will neutralize this added necessary agent to your vitamin, and you can feel good about giving your body something it needs without compromising the benefits.

This last ingredient passes through the digestive tract, without causing damage despite what some claims of residing in the lungs of a 12-year old and causing the death of that young body.

I like to offer what I have learned over the years in Bio-Chemistry classes as well as straight Anatomy and Biology classes because it may help you somewhere down the road. Most of the inactive & active ingredients in cosmetics, foods, household cleaning supplies, supplements & vitamins that are commercially-prepared can be researched in your local library or college bookstores where classroom material is bought according to a syllabus and reading list.

|| NUTRITION FACTS ||

There are no facts labeled on the bottle of Spring Valley Calcium plus Vitamin D 600mg, 250 Coated Tablets (Schiff) yet most people understand that the sunlight during daytime hours is rich with both harmful and helpful agents. If we lack Vitamin D our bones suffer even if we get enough calcium, it seems with direct sunlight it promotes synthesis of foods that are not as rich with calcium and vitamin d all by themselves and need some further guidance, if you will.

The label, highlighted in blue down on the bottom of the back of this plastic bottle does mention that with age the ability to produce sufficient amounts of Vitamin D are greatly reduced that leads to a much greater need for supplementation by even America’s most healthiest individuals.

Since vitamins are not sources of energy but act as coenzymes in a enzymatic system, you need only a small amount to help regulate body processes. I encourage that you make your diet alone provide sufficient amounts of these vitamins but if not take some of these knowing ‘MADE and GROWN in USA also means tainted or un-approved by the FDA‘, your call.

|| SMELL ||

I thought I was inhaling glazed porcelain after being fired only a few hours ago, yep that is the scent I got when I first opened the foil-lined seal upon twisting open the bright yellow cap.

|| TASTE ||

I find Spring Valley Calcium plus Vitamin D 600mg, 250 Coated Tablets (Schiff) are virtually tasteless ‘cept the first spit-rolled sensation of smooth coated chalk is about to enter my alimentary canal. Good for those that cannot stand anything bitter, salty or overly-sweet; this is none of those.

|| USES ||

Calcium is a naturally occurring metallic element, a mineral commonly found in limestone. It is required by the body for bone health and in this commercially-prepared but safe to ingest tablet you are supplying the little bit that your diet fails too. The added Vitamin D (needed only in small quantities as your diet SHOULD also supply as much raw vegetables, in which this fat soluble substance essential for metabolism of calcium and phosphorous), assists in the absorption of the metallic mineral.

I do suggest taking less than recommended if your of slender build and have a propensity for developing diarrhea. I am almost all-vegetarian lest some burgers, chicken and turkey sandwiched between days of veggies, nuts, and few whole grains.

|| VERDICT ||

I prefer the liquid capsules I recently found, while I still take these if the others are too expensive or not available. They are made with quality concentration of the two major ingredients stated, so you are getting your moneys worth. Since this product is manufactured under strict quality guidelines I would like to recommend highly the best bone-builder, muscle strengthener, immune booster and cardiovascular rejuvenator your body can get.

I assign this dietary supplement **** ½ stars, the ½ for binding factor. 
Thank you for reading and

Enjoy ! 

1-866-476-7868 or

Distributors: Perrigo, Allegan, Michigan 49010 USA

*Store between 59 and 86 degrees Farenheit
*Keep out of reach of children

**for some VITAMIN Background Info, go here . . .

Recommended: Yes