Vitamins and Your Health: Calcium’s Importance

Posted February 14th, 2006 by admin

Learn more about today’s vitamins and your health topic: calcium.

Calcium is one of the most important nutrients that our body needs to maintain health. It is important to know how much calcium you need daily and where you can get it. This will ensure that your body will reap the benefits of this great nutrient.

Calcium is a necessary mineral that helps to strengthen bones and teeth. When our body is low in calcium requirements, calcium is taken from our bones. If the calcium is not replenished by your diet, the bones become deficient. This can lead to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disorder that causes bones to become thin and brittle. This is becoming a major issue with older adults.

Children require calcium for proper bone growth. Pregnant women require calcium for the baby to grow. If there is not enough calcium in their diet, it will get taken from the mother. This is why calcium intake is essential during pregnancy. Children age 1-10 usually require about 1,200 mg of calcium daily. Those aged 11-24 require 1,500 mg daily. Pregnant and breast feeding mothers require about 1,400 mg of calcium daily. Older adults require 1,500 mg of calcium daily. Excess calcium does not harm the body and is easily excreted from the body.

Try to get at least three servings of dairy products daily. Another great source of calcium is the vegetable broccoli. Many vegetables contain calcium. Many products are fortified with calcium, like orange juice. Make sure your diet contains enough calcium, if not supplement.

Kristy Haugen


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