What is Calcium and Why is it Important?
Doctors and health organizations are constantly promoting the need to get plenty of calcium, but many people do not understand the full importance of calcium to bone health and overall well-being. Calcium is a naturally occurring mineral that is used by the body to build and maintain strong bones and teeth. It is also essential for a number of other bodily functions, such as the clotting of blood, secretion of enzymes and hormones, contraction of blood vessels and muscles, conduction of nerves, and function of cell membranes. Because it is used for so many different functions, calcium is the most prevalent mineral in the body.
In the process of working to keep our internal systems running efficiently, calcium is continually being used and discarded by the body. When insufficient levels of calcium are taken in, the body pulls calcium directly from the bones, which serve as holding tanks for the mineral. Unless calcium is continually added to the bone stores, the body will eventually take away so much that the bones will become brittle and prone to fractures. The result is weak and thin bones, a condition known as osteoporosis.
Where Does Calcium Come From?
Because calcium is not manufactured in the body, it must be obtained from dietary sources or nutritional supplements. Calcium is available in a variety of food types. Dairy is the best dietary source, and dairy foods contain the highest amount of absorbable calcium per serving. Eating foods such as cottage cheese, yogurt, and milk is the easiest and most effective way to meet your daily calcium requirements. Other simple ways to bolster your calcium stores are to make fruit smoothies with yogurt for breakfast, add shredded cheese to your vegetables or potatoes at dinner, or enjoy a cup of warm milk before bed.
For people who are lactose intolerant or vegans, there are other choices for calcium-rich foods. Broccoli, kale, and Chinese cabbage are all excellent sources of calcium. In addition, many packaged foods are enriched with calcium, including orange juice and many boxed cereals. For people who are unable to ingest enough calcium through diet alone, there are a number of calcium supplements available. Calcium citrate and calcium carbonate are the most commonly used calcium supplements. Multi-vitamins usually have some calcium, but often not enough to ensure sufficient levels are available for maintaining optimum health.
One very important factor to consider when choosing a food or supplement is the amount of absorbable calcium the product contains. Look for elemental calcium on the package label to make sure you are getting enough of this very important mineral.
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Most people are aware of the risk factors of calcium deficiency and the need for calcium supplementation, but the number of products currently available can be overwhelming. The question of what is the best calcium supplement to take can be a complicated one, but the answer is fairly simple.
With the prevalence of brittle bones diseases like osteoporosis in our society, calcium information has become widely available. It is abundant on the Internet, can be found in pamphlets at your doctor’s office, and is contained in booklets at your local pharmacy and grocery store. Too often, however, this important information is overlooked or even ignored. Informing yourself is the first step toward good health.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.