Calcium is an important constituent of our bones and teeth. It is also needed by the blood to perform various important functions including proper blood circulation and breakdown of larger molecules to release energy. Calcium along with other minerals helps in improving body’s capability of fighting against diseases and hence is very important for the development of a healthy immune system.

Everyone should be aware of calcium health because deficiency of this important mineral causes many degenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis. In addition to this, calcium deficiency is also associated with prolonged depression, pre-menstrual syndrome in women, kidney stones and high cholesterol levels.

Calcium health demands that we should eat calcium-rich foods on a regular basis. These include milk, calcium-fortified cereals, green leafy vegetables, fish and seafood. People who are calcium deficient should consume calcium tablets daily to bring up the level of calcium in their blood.

Women above the age of 40 or 50 are strongly advised to take calcium supplements to control their calcium deficiency as they need 1500 mg of this mineral daily.

If you pay attention to your calcium health today, it’s going to pay off hugely in the long run in terms of your health and well-being. Drink lots of milk, eat a healthy and balanced diet, and make a habit of exercising everyday.

Vitamin D and phosphorus help in proper absorption of calcium. In order to ensure good calcium health, you should also include multi-vitamin tablets to your diet. Alternatively, try to look for calcium supplements that contain certain other vitamins and minerals in addition to calcium which not only assist in calcium absorption but also provide some benefits of their own.

Calcium is naturally found in our bones and teeth. However, as we grow up the level of calcium starts decreasing and when the blood does not receive adequate amounts of this mineral from food, it starts extracting it from the bones. People who are not used to exercising regularly and have a small bone structure are at high risk of developing bone disease in old age.

Similarly, post-menopausal women are at high risk of developing degenerative diseases because of sudden calcium deficiency. Nutritional supplements help in controlling this deficiency to a large extent, and therefore doctors advise consuming these tablets on a regular basis.

Don’t neglect calcium deficiency for long periods of time if you want to live a healthy, fruitful life.

Calcium is a mineral essential to all stages of life, age groups, and gender.

99% of the body’s calcium is stored in the bones and teeth. The remainder circulates in the blood for use by the muscles and nervous system. It is important to note that the body does not make its own calcium; it is obtained and absorbed from the foods in your diet. This will include supplements if you are taking them.

Calcium concentration must be kept constant, and if not enough is taken in to the body, calcium will be withdrawn from the store sites in your bones. The bones will gradually become less dense, losing some of their strength, which can then lead to osteoporosis (brittle, porous bones). Withdrawing calcium from the bones is the body’s way of keeping blood levels constant.

Men and women will naturally lose calcium from their bones as they age, but the rate of loss is much higher in women. Women who are experiencing menopause, will have a faster loss of calcium from their bones. A good store of calcium in the bones at the menopause stage of life, will assist a woman in keeping osteoporosis at bay.
A calcium rich diet for the first 30 to 40 years of your life is essential for building-up your calcium stores. This will put you in a good position for fighting off bone disease in later life.

Calcium is essential to the body for many functions including; maintaining healthy bones and teeth; muscle contraction, including heart beat regulation; maintaining a healthy nervous system; regulating blood pressure (aiding blood clotting); the fight against osteoporosis. Studies have shown that diets rich in calcium can help the body to manage fat cells by aiding the mechanisms that store fat in the body. The result can help with weight loss. Including foods rich in calcium can help create a feeling of fullness, which can help to prevent snacking in-between meals.

Factors that influence calcium absorption

Vitamin D: Obtained from the sun on our skin, and is prevalent in food items such as canned salmon, eggs, butter and margarine. Calcium can not function in the body without Vitamin D. This vitamin helps to regulate the absorption of calcium from the food we ingest.

Exercise: Weight bearing exercise is needed for optimal absorption of calcium into the bones. This can include, walking, aerobics, running, dancing, cycling, gardening, weights or even pushing a pram.

Protein: A high protein intake reduces absorption. Recent studies indicate that while dairy products are a good source of calcium, their high protein content can interfere with the body’s ability to use the calcium ingested. It is best to obtain calcium from a varied diet, which includes non-dairy sources such as soybeans, almonds and salmon.

Hormones: Menopause sees a decline in oestrogen levels, resulting in a decline in the body’s ability to absorb calcium from your diet. The adolescence (teens) stage of life sees less calcium being absorbed due to the changes in hormone levels for both males and females.

Weight: Extreme thinness, (low body fat levels) or following very restricted diets will affect calcium absorption, and see withdrawal from the bones as the body struggles to maintain a constant level of calcium in the blood. This can lead to osteoporosis in later life, as the skeleton has not been given a chance to become strong.

And: High levels of Caffeine, Salt, Alcohol or Smoking will all reduce the amount of calcium the body can absorb from the diet.

Signs of Deficiency

A mild calcium deficiency can lead to insomnia, brittle nails, muscle twitching, irritability, and palpitations. Severe deficiency affects the muscular system – cramps, pains, numbness, stiffness, and depression. A deficiency of this degree can cause rickets in children. The most at risk are the elderly, those who avoid dairy products or other sources of calcium rich foods, those on high protein/high fibre diets, or when consuming large amounts of alcohol.

How much do you need per day?

Men 800mg

Women 800mg

Pregnancy 1100-1300mg

Children 1000mg

Sources of Calcium

Milk (250ml) 290mg

Fortified Low Fat Milk (250ml) 450mg

Yoghurt, 200g 380mg

Cheese, 25g 240mg

Almonds, 50g 125mg

Tahini Sesame Paste, 20g 190mg

Sesame Bar, 40g 115mg

Salmon, 100g 185mg

Sardines, 50g 455mg

Soybeans, 1 cup 130mg

Fortified Soy Milk, (250ml) 290mg

Tofu, 100mg 130mg

Oysters, 6 145mg

Broccoli, 100g 125mg

Baked Beans, ¼ cup 50mg

Figs, 5 135mg

Brazil Nuts, ½ cup 123mg

Peanuts, ½ cup 134mg

Chinese Kale, 100g 179mg

Special K, 30g 200mg

Mixed grain bread, 1 slice 112mg

Brown bread, 1 slice 15mg

Louise Elcoat, Bachelor Science, Health Promotion, Nutrition, Psychology

Director of www.yourbodyhealth.com.au [http://www.yourbodyhealth.com.au]

Yourbodyhealth provides individually designed programs for any health issues that are concerning you. Diet, exercise, wellbeing, or specific conditions such as diabetes or cholesterol can be addressed with a Yourbodyhealth program.

99% of the body’s calcium is stored in the bones and teeth. The remainder circulates in the blood for use by the muscles and nervous system. It is important to note that the body does not make its own calcium; it is obtained and absorbed from the foods in your diet. This will include supplements if you are taking them.

Calcium concentration must be kept constant, and if not enough is taken in to the body, calcium will be withdrawn from the store sites in your bones. The bones will gradually become less dense, losing some of their strength, which can then lead to osteoporosis (brittle, porous bones). Withdrawing calcium from the bones is the body’s way of keeping blood levels constant.

Men and women will naturally lose calcium from their bones as they age, but the rate of loss is much higher in women. Women who are experiencing menopause, will have a faster loss of calcium from their bones. A good store of calcium in the bones at the menopause stage of life, will assist a woman in keeping osteoporosis at bay.
A calcium rich diet for the first 30 to 40 years of your life is essential for building-up your calcium stores. This will put you in a good position for fighting off bone disease in later life.

Calcium is essential to the body for many functions including; maintaining healthy bones and teeth; muscle contraction, including heart beat regulation; maintaining a healthy nervous system; regulating blood pressure (aiding blood clotting); the fight against osteoporosis. Studies have shown that diets rich in calcium can help the body to manage fat cells by aiding the mechanisms that store fat in the body. The result can help with weight loss. Including foods rich in calcium can help create a feeling of fullness, which can help to prevent snacking in-between meals.

Factors that influence calcium absorption

Vitamin D: Obtained from the sun on our skin, and is prevalent in food items such as canned salmon, eggs, butter and margarine. Calcium can not function in the body without Vitamin D. This vitamin helps to regulate the absorption of calcium from the food we ingest.

Exercise: Weight bearing exercise is needed for optimal absorption of calcium into the bones. This can include, walking, aerobics, running, dancing, cycling, gardening, weights or even pushing a pram.

Protein: A high protein intake reduces absorption. Recent studies indicate that while dairy products are a good source of calcium, their high protein content can interfere with the body’s ability to use the calcium ingested. It is best to obtain calcium from a varied diet, which includes non-dairy sources such as soybeans, almonds and salmon.

Hormones: Menopause sees a decline in oestrogen levels, resulting in a decline in the body’s ability to absorb calcium from your diet. The adolescence (teens) stage of life sees less calcium being absorbed due to the changes in hormone levels for both males and females.

Weight: Extreme thinness, (low body fat levels) or following very restricted diets will affect calcium absorption, and see withdrawal from the bones as the body struggles to maintain a constant level of calcium in the blood. This can lead to osteoporosis in later life, as the skeleton has not been given a chance to become strong.

And: High levels of Caffeine, Salt, Alcohol or Smoking will all reduce the amount of calcium the body can absorb from the diet.

Signs of Deficiency

A mild calcium deficiency can lead to insomnia, brittle nails, muscle twitching, irritability, and palpitations. Severe deficiency affects the muscular system – cramps, pains, numbness, stiffness, and depression. A deficiency of this degree can cause rickets in children. The most at risk are the elderly, those who avoid dairy products or other sources of calcium rich foods, those on high protein/high fibre diets, or when consuming large amounts of alcohol.

How much do you need per day?

Men 800mg

Women 800mg

Pregnancy 1100-1300mg

Children 1000mg

Sources of Calcium

Milk (250ml) 290mg

Fortified Low Fat Milk (250ml) 450mg

Yoghurt, 200g 380mg

Cheese, 25g 240mg

Almonds, 50g 125mg

Tahini Sesame Paste, 20g 190mg

Sesame Bar, 40g 115mg

Salmon, 100g 185mg

Sardines, 50g 455mg

Soybeans, 1 cup 130mg

Fortified Soy Milk, (250ml) 290mg

Tofu, 100mg 130mg

Oysters, 6 145mg

Broccoli, 100g 125mg

Baked Beans, ¼ cup 50mg

Figs, 5 135mg

Brazil Nuts, ½ cup 123mg

Peanuts, ½ cup 134mg

Chinese Kale, 100g 179mg

Special K, 30g 200mg

Mixed grain bread, 1 slice 112mg

Brown bread, 1 slice 15mg

Calcium citrate is better absorbed than calcium carbonate. Calcium in general is best absorbed when taken in conjunction with Vitamin D, because without it, it would be a wasted absorption. It is fat soluble and works in mineral metabolism and bone growth.

Calcium is beneficial in many areas. Calcium helps to repair bones, helps nerve function, muscle contractions, blood clotting, and also helps heart problems. It is also helpful in managing the secretion of insulin and hormones. Research says that Calcium may also be helpful in preventing Osteoporosis.

If you have a calcium deficiency, you may notice symptoms such as insomnia, tetany (a metabolic disorder, strong premenstrual cramps, and hypertension. When a deficiency is present the body will draw from the teeth and the bones to try and maintain normal body functions.

Here is a reason in the long list of reasons why one should not smoke. Smoking has been shown to reduce bone mass. It also increases the risk of the smoker to have broken bones.

People on high salt diets, who consume excessive caffeine and alcohol, and those with low body weight experience low calcium absorption. A diet that is high in fiber intake combined with low levels of vitamin D, also decreases the rate at which calcium is absorbed.

Calcium deficiency can also lead to such things as Osteopenia, osteomalacia, rickets and bone (skeletal) deformities. Hypertension, types of kidney stones, periodontal diseases and miscarriages, are also among the many signs of or results of deficiency.

Calcium can be found in cheese and other dairy products. Some vegetables are also a good source of Calcium. There are supplements available to help provide added support, or replace the mineral when it is not readily in one’s diet.

Information on Calcium citrate – What are Calcium supplements?

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. However, despite this fact, most adults across the world really need to take a calcium supplement, since many studies have proven that many individual only take around half of what is needed of this crucial mineral daily. This is a problem that need to be addressed and can be by looking out for a calcium supplement, however, you need to learn about which calcium is best and why you shouldn’t just get the first and cheapest calcium supplement you find. This will not help you out much at all.

Around 99% of the body’s calcium is stored in our bones and teeth. The other 1% of this crucial mineral is circulated in our blood flow. If not enough of this mineral is consumed to maintain blood calcium levels, the body will simply take what it needs from the bones and teeth in order to carry out vital functions within your body. Because of this, in the long run, the bones and teeth will become fragile from having its calcium content stolen, and this as you can probably work out, can lead to some serious problems. Osteoporosis can occur. Moreover, calcium deficiency is also linked with hypertension and palpitations of the heart.

Our information on calcium citrate – How can a Calcium Supplement benefit you?

The mineral calcium supports the body’s tissues, bones, cells, and it also has the ability to let nerves communicate with one another. The mineral helps the human body in healing properly from wounds, promotes proper functioning of the heart, aids in blot clotting, and helps nutrients throughout the body and across cell membranes. Therefore, the mineral is vitally important and should be in all our diets if we want to be healthy.

Consuming enough of calcium has also been shown to help lower ones blood pressure, and has been said to help control heartburn due to the minerals role in smoothing out digestion and neutralizing ones stomach acids.

Further information on Calcium Citrate – benefits and precautions

So what have we learned here? Calcium really does do the body as good as the tv commercials say. Maintaining appropriate levels in your blood provides is yet another reason why you should not smoke or quit if you do. Every so often, it is probably a good idea for you to have yourself checked out.

Calcium is very important for children to support healthy bone growth and development. For adults, calcium could help prevent or reduce the symptoms of osteoporosis. As with anything, check with your doctor before making any changes in your diet or vitamin/supplement. Look into whether there are any reasons for you to not take calcium, such as a negative interaction with other medications you may be taking.

Those who suffer from conditions like kidney stones or kidney disease should not supplement with a calcium supplement, as they could end up aggravating the condition.

Information on calcium citrate – Our Personal Opinion

We always suggest that most people interested in maintaining or improving their health should look into taking a calcium supplement, this is because many adults have been shown in studies to be lacking sufficient amounts of this mineral, and due to the many important roles this mineral plays in your health.

We realize however, many people still like to get their mineral content from food alone, for those still more inclined to get your calcium from food, some excellent food sources are: broccoli, almonds, sardines, and collard greens.

One problem with foods today: due to modern farming methods, over the last several decades and more, the nutrient value of fruits and vegetables has rapidly declined including that of calcium. For the above reason, we believe that one should not rely solely on foods for their nutrition content.

Our Tips For Choosing A Calcium Citrate Supplement

1. The mineral calcium in many supplements can come in several forms. Many people do not realize this fact. One of the most common forms produced in supplements is calcium carbonate. We always advise that most people avoid this form and choose a supplement with calcium citrate. Calcium carbonate can cause gas or constipation in some people, while the citrate form of calcium generally will not due to its absorption ability.

One should note that, calcium citrate is the best absorbed form of calcium supplement, other than coral calcium, and calcium citrate does not require additional stomach acid. Calcium carbonate, however, must be taken with a meal to give you the excess stomach acid needed to increase absorption of this crucial mineral.

2. Always buy your nutritional supplements from pharmaceutical GMP compliant facilities, such places comply with the most strictest manufacturing standards. This is very important because nutritional supplements have become largely unregulated in the U.S., and consumers of health products, only have a 1 in 5 chance of buying a product that contains the amount of ingredients stated on the products label..

3. Calcium cannot be absorbed unless taken with Vitamin D and magnesium as we discussed above in our article. Because of this, we advise that you take your calcium supplement as part of a more synergistic comprehensive formula. This is much better for you than taking calcium as a stand alone product.

4. Be sure the calcium product does not contain any fillers or additives (examples include: sugar, starch, gluten, silica (sand!) or any artificial colors or flavors of any kind. This is detrimental to your health.