The Importance of Calcium

It doesn’t matter how old you are, or if you are male or female, calcium plays an important role in all of our lives. In fact, you would be surprised to learn everything this mineral does for your body. Not only does calcium provide us with healthy teeth and bones, but it also plays a key role in the normal clotting of blood. It also controls such bodily fluids as hormones and enzymes. Finally, calcium conducts nerve impulses, and controls muscle relaxation and contraction. So, without this highly abundant mineral we would be in pretty rough shape, as it is our entire body being influenced by just this one thing.

With that said it is unfortunate that both the old and young are not getting enough calcium these days. The amount of calcium you need depends mostly on age. For example, an infant age birth to 6 months needs 210 milligrams of calcium per day while an adult age 19 to 50 needs 1,000 milligrams per day. It should be noted that it is a false belief that women need more calcium than men. This simply is not true. It is true that the above numbers are just an estimate as to how much calcium any one person needs, it is important to consider other factors such as activity level and size. It should also be considered that calcium is a mineral, and whatever the body chooses not to use is simply disposed of, so in all reality you can never get too much calcium.

The best way to incorporate calcium into your diet is by eating calcium enriched foods. Such foods include dairy products like milk and cheese. Luckily, for those of you who may be lactose intolerant or just not found of cheese, there are other foods enriched with calcium. Several vegetables, such as broccoli and other leafy greens, are a good source of calcium. Additionally, companies that produce other products, such as orange juice, are wising up to the importance of calcium and are now fortifying there products with it. Finally, if you still cannot get enough calcium from your diet, there are a variety of calcium supplements on the market. The best bet for most when it comes to taking a vitamin supplement is to consider a daily multivitamin that covers all the bases. However, if it is just calcium you require there are still supplements for just that.

Regardless of how you get your calcium, you need it. It would be wise to do your own research on your body demographic and age to find how much calcium your body requires each day. Additionally, talking to a doctor or nutritionist can help you determine how much calcium you need and the best way for you to get it.

Briana Maynard holds a B.A in Journalism and currently writes for eDrugstore.MD, an online facilitator for Viagra online and other safe FDA-approved medications such as Propecia for hair loss. Briana uses her journalism skills to cover big pharma news she shares on the eDrugstore.MD Health Blog

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