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Dietary
Calcium Supplements
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| Calcium is by far the most
important mineral our body requires. Unfortunately it is also the one we
are most likely to be deficient of increasing the need for a dietary calcium supplement. |
| An adult body contains about 3
– 4 pounds of calcium. Ninety-Nine percent is found in bones and teeth,
with the other 1% distributed throughout the body in fluids and tissue. |
| If we are getting enough
calcium in our diet our bodies can store reserves, and in stress
situations this reserve is used. If our body has no reserves calcium
then it will take the calcium it needs from our bones, usually the spine
and pelvic bones. |
| We reach peak bone mass around
age 25. By 40 – 50 , the re-sorption, or tearing down, may start to
exceed the deposition or building up. This is how our total bone mass
can start to gradually decline leading to osteoporosis. Women over the
age of 50 (postmenopausal) are most at risk but younger people and older
men are at risk too. |
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| How
dietary calcium supplements can help |
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Builds
and maintains bones and teeth |
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Regulates
heart rhythm |
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Aids
vitality and endurance |
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Helps
maintain proper nerve and muscle function |
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Aids in
normal blood clotting |
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May help
to lower blood pressure |
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May
reduce the risk of colon cancer |
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Eases
insomnia |
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Aids in
the absorption of many nutrients |
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Symptoms
of deficiency may include
Muscles cramps, Heart palpitations, Poor growth, Tooth decay,
Osteoporosis (loss of bone mass), Brittle nails, Nervousness,
Depression, Insomnia, Aching joints, Softening of bones, Brittle bones |
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Natural
Sources
Dairy foods, Salmon (with bones),
Sardines, Green leafy vegetables, Broccoli, Almonds, Blackstrap molasses |
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| Important |
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Vitamin D is needed
to properly absorb calcium.
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Stress and
immobilization can reduce your bodies ability to absorb calcium.
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Some foods,
including spinach, cocoa, soybeans and foods high in phosphates
(this may include carbonated cola drinks) can interfere with the
absorption of calcium into your body.
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A light meal allows
better absorption of calcium than an empty stomach
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Caffeine increase
the loss of calcium through the kidneys
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