Calcium plays a role in your body’s functions
Calcium is a major part of tooth and bone health as well. It makes your bones strong and dense. You can think of your bones as your body’s calcium reservoir. If you don’t get enough calcium in your diet, your body will take it from your bones.
Your body doesn’t produce calcium, so you have to rely on your diet to get the calcium you need. Foods that are high in calcium include:
- dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
- dark green vegetables such as a kale, spinach, and broccoli
- white beans
- sardines
- calcium-fortified breads, cereals, soy products, and orange juices
Your body needs vitamin D in order to absorb calcium. That means you won’t fully benefit from a calcium-rich diet if you are low on vitamin D.
You can get vitamin D from certain foods, such as salmon, eggs yolks, and some mushrooms. Like calcium, some food products have vitamin D added to them. For example, some milk often has added vitamin D.
Sunshine is your best source of vitamin D. Your skin naturally produces vitamin D when exposed to the sun. Those with darker skin don’t produce vitamin D as well, so supplements may be necessary to avoid deficiency.
Several studies show that calcium may ease symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). This study here concluded that women with PMS have lower intakes of calcium and magnesium, and lower serum levels.
How do you know if you’re getting enough calcium? The National Institutes of Health (NIH) say that adults should get 1,000 mg every day, more details here. For women over 50 and during pregnancy and breast-feeding, NIH recommends 1,200 mg daily.
One cup of skim, low-fat, or whole milk contains about 300 mg of calcium.
The University of California San Francisco has a helpful guide here to check to see how much calcium is in many common foods.
A lack of calcium could lead to other health issues. For adults, too little calcium can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis, or frail and porous bones that easily fracture. Osteoporosis is especially common in older women, which is why the NIH recommends they consume more calcium than their male counterparts.
Calcium is essential for children as they grow and develop. Children who don’t get enough calcium may not grow to their full potential height, or develop other health issues.
Not everyone gets the calcium they need from diet alone. If you are lactose intolerant, vegan, or just not a fan of dairy products, you may find it difficult to get enough calcium in your diet.
A calcium supplement can help add calcium to your diet. Calcium carbonate and calcium citrate are the two most recommended forms of calcium supplements.
Calcium carbonate is cheaper and more common. It can be found in most antacid medicines. It needs to be taken with food in order for it to work well.
Calcium citrate doesn’t need to be taken with food and may be better absorbed by older people with lower levels of stomach acid.
Take note that calcium supplements do have side effects. You may experience constipation, gas, and bloating. The supplements may also interfere with your body’s ability to absorb other nutrients or medications. ALWAYS Check with your doctor before starting any supplements.
With any mineral or nutrient, it is important to get the right amount. Too much calcium can have negative side effects. Symptoms such as constipation, gas, and bloating may indicate that you’re getting too much calcium.
Extra calcium may also increase your risk of kidney stones. In rare cases, too much calcium can cause deposits of calcium in your blood. This is called hypercalcemia.
Some doctors think that taking calcium supplements can increase your risk of heart disease, but others disagree. At the moment, more research is needed to understand how calcium supplements affect heart health.
Calcium is essential to your overall health. You can get the calcium you need from many different foods, and if necessary, from supplements. Calcium works together with other nutrients such as vitamin D, so it is important keep up a balanced diet. As with any mineral or nutrient, you should monitor your calcium intake so that you aren’t getting too much or too little.
Words above from article here
Other helpful links
UK's NHS site 'About Calcium' - see here
BBC Good Food site 'Calcium rich foods' - see here
However, it is IMPORTANT to note that articles within this blog are provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your GP or local health care team/provider.
All the best Jan
All the best Jan
32 comments:
Good info to know, thanks for sharing.
I always like these articles you publish...I can't retain it all, but somethings I do retain.
Gracias por los consejos. Te mando un beso.
...I can't say that I know much about this, thanks!
Lots of good information here!
I eat all of those foods and take Vitamin D. In Canada, we don't get enough vitamin D from sunlight because of the weather and use of sunscreen for skin safety.
Very important mineral -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
I take vit D. Lot of people here is low on D.
Very good informative post on calcium! It's important to note that the body doesn't produce it. We take it from food and supplements.
Good read Jan.
Thank you. I am pretty sure I do get enough - and take Vitamin D supplements.
Calcium and Vit D supplements help to reduce overall cancer risk
I pretty much knew all this, but it never hurts to reread it again.
I didn't realise you need vitamin D to absorb calcium. Another reason why a balanced diet is important.
Good information of calcium will support a longer healthy life.
Important information, thanks for sharing.
Take care, have a great day!
It's often better to make sure one's diet is sufficiently balanced to provide all the vitamins required. Useful to know that supplements are available for any shortfall, though.
Thanks for the infos, these things are so important!
Good info
Jan, for our body to absorb calcium we must sunbathe or failing that vitamin D. I tell you that in ancient times royalty did not sunbathe and were called "blue blood". Why? Because you could see the blue veins through their white skin.
I regularly eat many of the calcium-rich foods above.
I take a calcium supplement, and eat a careful diet. Paraplegics need calcium because their muscles get weak, and then their bones get brittle.
Thanks for this. I follow my dr recommendations on supplements, which works for me right now. Calcium is one of the few she has me taking.
Interesting, thanks.
Good information.
Todos esos alimentos que producen calcio los como bastante y también tomo el sol.Besos.
Good to know. I take Vitamin D supplements since mine was low.
This is an interesting post, Jan. It's amazing how it all has to work together.
It is so important. My daughter takes calcium as she is on a dairy-free diet. I am not sure if I am getting enough as I am also dairy-free.
Thanks so much for the helpful info and reminders.
I had forgotten how useful calcium is
and also that vitamin D is essential for its absorption!!
Very informative post ~ thanks ~ hugs,
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
I always wonder if I am getting enough calcium but I think I am with all that I eat, I do have to take extra vitamin D
Post a Comment