Calcium Uses and Benefits

Most people probably know that calcium is important for maintaining healthy teeth and bones. But the importance of calcium doesn't stop there. It is also important for the proper functioning of muscles and nerves and overall body health. It even helps your blood clot faster should you get cut. It make up about 70 percent of bone by weight and give your bone its strength and rigidity. The average person loses between 400 and 500 mg of calcium per day. This is the reason why bones turn brittle.

Calcium is found in abundance in sunlight and that's the reason that people who exercise regularly look more fit and healthy that the rest. Calcium helps keep the weight off. Research suggests that if you don't get enough calcium in your diet, you're likely to be overweight. A person who has calcium deficiency is likely to suffer from heart aliments or high BP.A person should eat about 700 mg of calcium daily.  Children who are still growing need more calcium than adults and so do people in their dot age. Post menopausal women are especially at risk of calcium deficiency and should increase their calcium intake to about 1200 mg per day.

Calcium is found naturally in milk and milk products, cheese and yogurt.Orange juice and cereals are also good ways to get enough calcium in your diet. Other good sources include sardines, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, soy beans, and figs.

Smoking, caffeine consumption, drinking alcohol, heavy protein consumption, exposure to toxic metals, and eating processed junk foods will all increase our need for calcium.

Not getting enough calcium can contribute to the development of osteoporosis (porous bones).
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by bones that are thin and fragile and can break (fracture) easily. People with osteoporosis have low bone mass, and low bone mass can result in bone fractures.
Having enough calcium in the diet is essential in helping to prevent osteoporosis and helping to prevent the loss of bone mass.