Sunday, July 24, 2011

Get More Calcium!

What is Calcium and why is it so important to our bodies? Calcium is a mineral that the body needs for numerous functions, including building and maintaining bones and teeth, blood clotting, the transmission of nerve impulses, and the regulation of the heart's rhythm. It is quite essential that we all have it. Lacking it could cause health concerns down the road. Ninety-nine percent of the calcium in the human body is stored in the bones and teeth. The remaining 1 percent is found in the blood and other tissues. Don't you want to maintain your body? We all want strong teeth and bones. I know that as I begin to get older, I notice that I am lacking vitamins and nutrients. I've been trying to take in more Calcium,....this includes eating more greens. I did some research for you because I am not the expert here. I actually learned a few things from this article. I want to feel 40 when I'm 60 so I am paying attention to what I need.

The body gets the calcium it needs in two ways. One is by eating foods or supplements that contain calcium. Good sources include dairy products, which have the highest concentration per serving of highly absorbing calcium, and dark leafy greens or dried beans, which have varying amounts of absorbing calcium. Calcium supplements often contain vitamin D; taking calcium paired with vitamin D seems to be more beneficial for bone health than taking calcium alone.

The other way the body gets calcium is by pulling it from bones. This happens when blood levels of calcium drop too low, usually when it's been awhile since having eaten a meal containing calcium. Ideally, the calcium that is "borrowed" from the bones will be replaced at a later point...but, this doesn't always happen. Most important, this payback can't be accomplished simply by eating more calcium.

When most people in the United States think of calcium, they immediately think of milk. But should this be so? Milk is actually only one of many sources of calcium—dark leafy green vegetables and some types of legumes are among the other sources—and there are some important reasons why milk may not be the best source for everyone. Lactose intorerant, High saturated content, and now they are even saying that there is risk of some ovarian and prostate cancers.How? High levels of galactose, a sugar released by the digestion of lactose in milk, have been studied as possibly damaging to certain organs.

Despite the debates surrounding milk and calcium, one thing is clear: adequate calcium—both for bone development and for non-bone functions—is key to reducing the risk of osteoporosis. However, the healthiest or safest amount of dietary calcium hasn't yet been established. Different scientific approaches have yielded different estimates, so it's important to consider all the evidence.

Maximum-calcium-retention studies, which examine the maximum amount of calcium that can be forced into bones, suggest a fairly high requirement. To ensure that 95 percent of the population gets this much calcium, the National Academy of Sciences established the following recommended intake levels:
  • 1,000 milligrams/day for those age 19 to 50
  • 1,200 milligrams/day for those age 50 or over
  • 1,000 milligrams/day for pregnant or lactating adult women

What are my thoughts? I want what he's having! Bring on the milk!  Do these sexy ads make you take notice?




No comments:

Post a Comment