Benefits Of “Calcium” Supplements
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| Benefits | Signs Of Deficiency |
Food Sources |
Herbal Sources |
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Foods containing calcium.
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| Calcium Citrate Chewable Wafers - 60 Wafers TwinLab |
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| Vitamin Shoppe Calcium 1000 1000 MG - 100 Softgels |
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| Solaray Calcium Citrate With Vitamin D-3 - 180 Capsules |
Almost 99% of the body’s calcium is stored in the bones and teeth. The rest circulates in the blood. It is essential to a number of body processes, including proper muscle contraction of the heart and other muscles.
It is more than just a bone builder. There are findings that link higher levels of calcium intake with lower colon rectal cancer risk. And it may keep blood pressure low. Evidence suggests that getting at least 800 milligrams a day reduces the risk of high blood pressure.
Various foods and beverages can increase calcium loss through urinary excretion. These include high protein intake from supplements or special diets, high fiber meals, coffee containing caffeine, and alcohol.
When the level of circulating calcium is low, the bones release the stored amount into the blood. It also plays several roles in maintaining health which include activating certain enzymes that convert food into energy, aiding proper nerve and muscle function, promoting blood clotting, and building bones and teeth.
Inadequate amount of this mineral over a period of time can contribute to the process of osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). As people age, their bones lose calcium, becoming brittle and porous. Osteoporosis can lead to compression fractures of the vertebrae, muscle spasms and broken bones due to minor falls. Other mineral important to the health of your bones include copper, manganese, vitamin D, and zinc.
SIGNS OF DEFICIENCY:
Signs of calcium deficiency include aching joints, brittle nails, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, muscle cramps, nervousness, numbness in the arms and legs, rickets, and tooth decay.
Excessive amounts of this mineral can increase the risk of kidney stones. High levels of calcium in the blood stream can lead to hypercalcemia, a potentially serious condition characterized by constipation, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, and kidney damage. However, excessive calcium in the body is usually due to other diseases, rather than dietary factors. These diseases include certain cancers, hormonal disorders, kidney disease, or overdose of vitamin D.
As with all dietary supplement, calcium supplements should be used in amounts typically recommended for nutritional purposes only.
FOOD SOURCES:
Cheese, milk, green leafy vegetable, salmon with bones, blackstrap molasses, almonds, broccoli, brewer's yeast, kelp, kale, tofu, yogurt and sesame seeds.
HERBAL SOURCES:
Excellent herbal sources of calcium are alfalfa, chamomile, dandelion, gotu kola, hawthorn, horsetail, kelp, red raspberry, skullcap, stinging nettle and valerian.
