Calcium

Should your diet not provide you with adequate intake of the vital mineral calcium, a calcium supplement will ensure that you are receiving the amount that you need. Absorbed in the small intestine, calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body, with about 2 to 3 pounds’ worth alone found in the average adult. Of this, 99% is concentrated in the teeth and bones. Of the amount found in adult bones, 20% of that calcium content is replenished each year. This means that new cells are formed to replace the old ones. The remaining 1% of calcium concentration in the body is found in the circulatory system, in the blood and muscles. Additionally calcium is important for proper nerve functioning in the body and as an aid to blood clots. Calcium supplements are therefore an important health choice for individuals to ensure that their bones, blood and muscles remain in good condition.

The common food sources of calcium are mainly vegetables, nuts and fish sources. These would include broccoli, collard greens, almonds and sardines. The average American diet is sorely lacking in vegetables, however, and modern farming methods have bleached fruits and vegetables of much of their nutritional value. It is recommended that you include a calcium supplement in your diet to make up for the lack.

Your calcium supplement should contain more than calcium, however. Few minerals work alone to do their magic in the human body, and calcium is no exception. For example, it requires Vitamin D in order to be properly absorbed by the body. Also, calcium cooperates with several minerals to achieve optimal effectiveness. As an example it works with phosphorous to ensure health in bones and teeth, and with magnesium to ensure optimal cardiovascular health. A calcium magnesium supplement will therefore ensure that you are obtaining a complete solution that gives calcium what it needs to work effectively.

Your bones contain your body’s emergency supply of calcium. Therefore if you don’t get enough calcium from your diet, your body will borrow the supply it needs from your bones. A deficiency of calcium will result in bone loss, most noticeably osteoporosis. The specific areas where the breakdown will occur first are the spine and jaw. Among women, calcium is one of the most common minerals deficient in their diet (iron being the next). Women make up 80% of patients diagnosed with osteoporosis while men make up 20%. Studies have also shown that women taking oral contraceptives have also experienced reduced bone mass, increasing their chances of being afflicted with osteoporosis later in life. Other symptoms of low calcium in the blood include muscle spasms and hypertension.

Calcium intake from a calcium supplement is equally as beneficial as calcium intake from diet. There is no noticeable difference in, terms of benefits, from one over the other. The Recommended Daily Allowance for calcium has been set at between 1,000 to 2,000 mg per day. As always, we recommend that you purchase a complete blend that includes vitamin D, and a package certified as pharmaceutical GMP compliant facilities, which will ensure that it has been made to the highest standards.

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