Calcium: the Miracle Mineral
by Charlene J. Nuble
zone3
We’ve heard it not only once or twice or even thrice but a lot of
times. If you want healthy bones and teeth then pack up on the Calcium
intake. While it is true that calcium is absolutely necessary to the
health and strength of bones and teeth, this essential mineral also serves
several other important purposes in the body. Yet, many people still
routinely fail to consume enough calcium in their daily diets.
In addition
to the benefits to teeth and bones, calcium plays a role in blood
clotting, muscle functions, and the cell membranes maintenance. It is also
important to the prevention of debilitating bone diseases, such as
osteoporosis. Despite the known importance of consuming adequate amounts
of calcium daily, some research have found that as much as 75% of
Americans do not have a sufficient daily intake of calcium. Comprising
most of these numbers are those who are following strict vegetarian diets.
Fortunately, there are several varieties of calcium supplements available
on the market. Adults need between 1000 mgs and 1300 mgs of calcium per
day and should not exceed beyond 2500 mgs as overdose in daily calcium
intake can cause other health problems. Your health care professional can
help you to choose the amount that you need daily as preexisting
conditions, such as bone loss or damage due to previous deficiencies, can
make a difference in how much you should be taking daily. The most common
calcium supplements include calcium citrate, calcium carbonate, oyster
shell or bone meal based calcium supplements, coral calcium, and calcium
gluconate and calcium lactate based supplements.
In choosing your supplement, you should be aware of how to read the
label to ensure that you are getting the amount of calcium that you think
you are. Elemental calcium is the term used for the calcium that your body
will be able to absorb. Some supplements have this and other types of
calcium, but it is only the elemental calcium that can count towards your
daily intake. Calcium is absorbed best in acidic circumstances, which is
why many supplements are recommended for use after meals, when the stomach
acids are at higher levels.
Current research has found that calcium citrate is the most efficient
of the supplements because it can be absorbed easily by the system.
However, although it is absorbed easier and can be taken at any time of
day, whether or not there is food in the stomach, this type of calcium
supplement often contains less of the elemental calcium, and thus more
pills daily will be needed. On the other hand, calcium carbonate is the
most common over the counter calcium supplement. It has a special
instruction though and that is it should be taken only after meals when
there is increased stomach acid production. These, however, should be
watched for sodium content. Calcium is needed by our system to enable us
to live healthy and normal lives. Insufficient daily supply of this
mineral in our body can lead to numerous health problems causing not only
a lot of damage in the pockets but also an abnormal lifestyle. To avoid
these complications and inconvenience, it is therefore essential to intake
the right amount of calcium needed daily by our body. A little research
and consultation with a nutritional specialist can help you to plan your
daily diet so as to be able to obtain the healthy amount of daily calcium.
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