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.
Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.
Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about Vitamins, please go to: http://vitamins.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/
I spent a few days at a resort in Mexico... Read More
Unfortunately, the words "diet" and "cheating" go hand in hand.... Read More
Do you need omega 3 fatty acid in your diet?... Read More
Eating grain products - breads, cakes, cereals - have long... Read More
Eating healthy is fast becoming a way of life. American's... Read More
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and potentially life-altering disorder with symptoms... Read More
Beverages - and not just alcohol - are a significant... Read More
Cholesterol finds its way into our bodies in two main... Read More
Omega-3 appear to reduce the risk of heart attack. A... Read More
Incorporating these fat loss tips will improve your nutrition program.... Read More
It is always amazing to me when I find a... Read More
PROTEIN DEFICIENT? CHANCES ARE YOU ARE!Did you know that 9... Read More
Olive oil is a healthy choice over other fats such... Read More
"To eat an apple before going to bed will make... Read More
Diets concern especially Americans as they do have a "national... Read More
With so many people concerned about natural and organic foods... Read More
Inflammation is not a disease.Inflammation is best described as a... Read More
Water is a vitally important component of any valuable and... Read More
The topic of nutrition is one that is always present... Read More
The word herb is used to refer to any part... Read More
Many of us, probably even you, want this thing called... Read More
Approximately 30 years ago, food manufacturers were competing against the... Read More
For any kid who grew up eating doughy, thick Wonder... Read More
Almost every woman suffers with premenstrual syndrome at one time... Read More
Apple cider vinegar is a product of apple juice fermentation.... Read More
Having spent most of my life living off of junk... Read More
The research in support of dietary omega-3 fatty acids (such... Read More
For all I prefer to buy my fresh produce at... Read More
Recently, trans fats have risen to the forefront of the... Read More
Green tea has been used as for medical remedies in... Read More
Whether you're concerned about cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or simply... Read More
The concept isometric has been a part of the health... Read More
The makers of Bumble Bee Tuna generated some buzz today... Read More
PROTEIN DEFICIENT? CHANCES ARE YOU ARE!Did you know that 9... Read More
The Immune System is probably the most important system in... Read More
In health circles there has been much recent talk about... Read More
Eating right to suit your blood type" is a subject... Read More
The body is a marvelous creation, a carbon, oxygen combustion... Read More
Numerous reports have recently appeared in both the lay and... Read More
In the last twenty years, a huge and growing body... Read More
Wow! Is it just me or? Wait! Let me start... Read More
So what's all the shake up about anyway?. To put... Read More
Salt does Not Cause High Blood Pressure. Some things you... Read More
With today's time constraints, stressful jobs, and "thin is in"... Read More
Fad diets have been around for more than 50 years... Read More
When Helen Boardman was still a girlish 99, she fell... Read More
Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More
While oxygen is the key to human survival, it is... Read More
Are you worried yet about your health? Are you anxious... Read More
Strict "no carb" phases of low carb diets have developed... Read More
The Food Pyramid, first introduced to the US in 1992,... Read More
Established in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice, "Foundation for Innovation in... Read More
You can spot a juicer a mile off at the... Read More
First some terminology.Fructose ... a five carbon sugar that occurs... Read More
Understanding ocular nutrition and eye health can be one of... Read More
For a considerable amount of time, nutrition has not played... Read More
Do you know the risks to daily intakes of Starbucks... Read More
In parts 1-4 of this series of articles titled "Take... Read More
Evidence suggesting that alcohol is "cardio-protective" first appeared in the... Read More
There are a number of common food mistakes that costs... Read More
How well do you know about vitamin K? This vitamin... Read More
Last year I had a number of clients who started... Read More
Eating orange mean absorbing vitamin C to our body, is... Read More
For the executive, maintaining the much-needed balance between career, family,... Read More
Originally, all foods were "organic" ? grown and prepared without... Read More
AmbrotoseŽ - the Nutritional Alphabet of the "Sweet Language of... Read More
Nutrition |