It also is important for maintenance of a regular heartbeat and for transmission of nerve impulses. It is needed for muscle growth and contraction. It is critical for bone growth and bone mineralization in children. Dietary deficiencies of calcium may place our aging population at higher risk for osteoporosis. Although some foods are high in calcium, they may also be high in oxalic acid.
Oxalates interfere with calcium absorption.
High oxalic acid foods include almonds, beets, cashews, chard, green beans, kale, rhubarb, soybeans, and spinach. The best sources of calcium are dairy products. Different forms of calcium are absorbed differently. This compound as a tablet has the poorest absorption and the most calcium per pill. It is the cheapest and the most common form found in antacids.