Calcium & About Health

Calcium for Weight Loss

2007-11-12T12:28:00.000+07:00

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Calcium for Weight Loss

Psst, got milk? Calcium may be the newest weight-loss
secret. A new study provides more evidence that
calcium can fight body fat and help keep your weight
under control.

Researchers found that adolescent girls who consumed more
calcium weighed less and had less body fat than girls
who consumed the same amount of calories from other
sources. Previous studies have shown that a higher
calcium intake can block body fat production in adults and
preschool children, but this is one of the first studies
to show that it might have the same effect in
body-conscious preteen and teenage girls.

The study

The study, presented this week at the Experimental Biology
2003 meeting in San Diego, involved an ethnically mixed
group of 321 girls aged nine to 14.

Each of the girls recorded everything she ate and drank,
along with any calcium or vitamin supplements, for three
days. Researchers also measured the girls' physical
activity, weight, and amount of body fat just above the
hipbone -- a measure of abdominal fat.

Not surprisingly, they found that the girls who consumed
more total calories and exercised less weighed more and
had more body fat. But when researchers compared girls
with similar calorie intake, physical activity level,
and size, they found that the girls who consumed more
calcium on average weighed less.

Researchers say most of the calcium in the girls' diet came
from dairy sources, and it didn't take much to make a
difference in their body fat and weight. The study found
an increase of one serving of dairy, such as a cup of
milk or thumb-sized piece of cheese containing about 300 mg
of calcium, was associated with about half an inch less
abdominal fat and nearly 2 pounds in lower weight.

But researcher Rachel Novotny, PhD, RD, says the findings
shouldn't be interpreted as an excuse to add more cheese
and other calcium-rich dairy products to your diet in
the hopes of stimulating weight loss.

"It doesn't mean that just eating more dairy can help you
lose weight," says Novotny, professor and chair of the
department of human nutrition, food and animal sciences
at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Calories are still the bottom line

His findings, published in this week's Journal of the
"Calories are still the bottom line," Novotny tells WebMD.
"Does the composition of calories matter? Yes, having
more of them come from calcium-rich foods is associated
with lower weight and lower body fat."

In light of the current obesity epidemic, Novotny says these
findings might provide a new way to help set up children for
a healthy body weight later in life. Although reducing
overall calorie intake and increasing physical activity
are the most effective means to promote weight loss
and reduce body fat in people of any age, she says a
relatively small change in calcium intake might also
lower body fat.

"What perhaps is important about this is that they are in a
period of rapid growth, and because of that growth there is
an opportunity to modify their body composition," says
Novotny. "It sets the stage for future body composition."

High body fat and obesity is associated with many health
risks such as high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer,
and diabetes.

Calcium's fat-fighting power is not fully understood

The exact mechanism behind calcium's fat-fighting power is
not fully understood, but previous research in animals
suggests that high levels of calcium in the bloodstream
slow down fat production and help shift the body's focus
from accumulating fat to breaking it down.

Registered dietitian Althea Zanecosky says the old adage,
"like mother, like daughter" usually doesn't apply to
weight control methods, but this study shows that it can.

"As a dietitian, I'm really thrilled because here's a food
we're trying to get them to eat for other reasons, and now
here's this added bonus," says Zanecosky, who is also
spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

"Preventing bone disease coming years down road might not be
an incentive for girls," Zanecosky tells WebMD. "But for
those concerned about their weight, this is one more reason
for them to drink their milk because it may also have this
beneficial effect on their weight."

Sneak extra doses of calcium-rich foods into your children's
diet

Zanecosky says it's not hard for parents to sneak extra
doses of calcium-rich foods into their children's diet. As
a mother of two adolescent daughters herself, she finds
the following "tricks" especially effective in her own
children:

Grab a decaffeinated cappuccino with your teenager as an
after-school snack.

Send yogurt along with their lunch, as a snack, or have it
for breakfast (no-fat or low-fat versions of many yogurts
are also available for weight-conscious kids).

Whip up fruit smoothies with skim milk or yogurt.

Sprinkle reduced-fat grated cheeses on salads.

Incorporate low-fat shredded cheese blends into dinner
entrees, such as Mexican cheeses on fajitas and tacos,
Italian cheeses on pasta, etc.

If your child doesn't like plain milk, offer flavored milks
such as chocolate or strawberry.

"This is one potentially trendy diet that's healthy. You can
control fat and get strong bones at same time. I don't know
of any other diets can make that claim," says Zanecosky.
"You can't lose anything but pounds."

Source: WebMD

About The Author

Michael Lewis has been collecting articles and information
on Weight Loss and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and related
health benefits. He has created and edits numerous web
sites about this subject. Michael is a staff writer for
www.ageforce.com and several other websites.

Build Health: Cut Through The Calcium Hype

2007-11-10T15:25:00.000+07:00

The initial success of penicillin generated an assumption which has stuck with us as a cultural belief in the Quick Technological Fix. That assumption is:

A single variable can be divided out from all other variables, tested for its result, and it will prevent or promote disease.

Most people have come to believe nutrition is divisible, and that a single substance will maintain vibrant health. The touting of calcium for the degenerative disease osteoporosis provides an excellent example.

Every day the media, acting as proxy for the milk lobby, sells calcium as a magic bullet. Has it worked? Definitely for sales of milk; but for American health it has been a disaster.

Brainwashed by magic bullet thinking, so-called "experts" tell us to take more and more calcium. But calcium is antagonistic to magnesium. And the American diet is woefully short in magnesium.

When you load up your system with excess calcium, you shut down magnesium’s ability to activate thyrocalcitonin, a hormone that under normal circumstances would send calcium to your bones.

Next, your excess calcium proceeds to wander around creating all sorts of mischief in blood vessels, joints, kidneys and eyes.

Why is it that supposedly nutritionally disadvantaged countries, with low calcium intake but enough magnesium in their soils, exhibit little if any evidence of osteoporosis?

Because the people in these countries do not consume large amounts of calcium that antagonize or work against magnesium, or zinc, and a plethora of other minerals required by our metabolic enzyme systems.

�Experts� do not tell us that in living systems minerals work interdependently as a team.

In 1993 medical researchers claimed that calcium was a magic bullet that could help prevent osteoporosis. They told us dairy products, such as milk, provide one of the best sources of calcium.

Every day the media gives us a dose of that finding.

In 1997, however, medical researchers claimed there was no evidence consuming dairy products prevents osteoporosis. How so?

They decided dairy products are high in sulfur amino acids that lead to calcium depletion.

Has the media told you this? No.

And they are not going to tell you anything about this because the milk lobby advertising budget helps finance media payrolls.

Think about what awaits all those poor folks who have been fooled by the myth that taking lots of calcium will save their bones.

About The Author

Bill Quesnell, author of �Minerals: The Essential Link to Health,� is a health educator and Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation member. He helps people recover energy and vitality.

Subscribe to FREE monthly ezine, �Where Health Comes From� at info@mineralsbuildhealth.com. Write Bill at 5039 Voltaire St. #3, San Diego, CA 92107 See critical reviews & 15 harmful health myths at http://www.mineralsbuildhealth.com

Bill@mineralsbuildhealth.com

Benefits of Coral Calcium

2007-11-10T15:20:00.000+07:00

The benefits of coral calcium are many, which is the main reason why coral calcium supplements are widely used by people around the world. First, it is important to understand that there are two distinct types of coral calcium being sold on the market today: land-mined coral calcium and marine coral calcium.

Fossilized land coral has lost much of its power through the years of wear and tear by the environment. On the flip side, seabed coral is very similar in composition to the human skeleton, which therefore makes it more powerful and more easily assimilated into the human body. Seabed coral is harvested in a completely ecologically safe manner, and live coral reefs are not damaged or destroyed in the process. Small organisms that feed off of marine coral force seabed coral particles to fall to the ocean floor, where it is then harvested. These particles are sometimes referred to as coral sand.

Understanding the Major Health Benefits of Coral Calcium There have been numerous studies conducted on the benefits of coral calcium. Fortunately, these studies have demonstrated that there are some valid facts supporting the use of coral calcium supplements for illness and disease prevention.

Clinical trials have suggested that coral calcium may actually be able to reverse or halt cancerous tumors or cell growth in patients. This is fantastic news for patients who are weary of undergoing harsh chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Studies have also suggested that taking coral calcium on a regular basis may be able to help deter the onset of heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, arthritis, cancer, lupus, gout, Alzheimer's, and diabetes, to name a few degenerative diseases. When you buy coral calcium, you are taking a proactive stance against illness and disease. When studies have demonstrated again and again the benefits of coral calcium, it seems silly not to take heed.

Finally The Truth About Calcium Supplements

2007-11-08T20:48:00.000+07:00

Undoubtedly calcium has become a hot topic of controversy. We are bombarded with advertising telling us exactly what will give our body more calcium. Between the �Got Milk?� slogans on one end and the Coral Calcium �cure-all� TV spots on the opposite end it is time that the truth be exposed. Let�s look at why we need calcium and then some signs of calcium deficiency.

How the Body Uses Calcium:

Strong bones, teeth and gums
Maintaining a regular heartbeat
The lowering of cholesterol
Helps prevent cardiovascular disease
Needed for muscular growth and contraction
Prevents muscle cramps
Essential in blood clotting
Helps prevent cancer
May lower blood pressure
May prevent bone loss associated with osteoporosis
Helps to activate enzymes which breaks down fats
Maintains proper cell membrane permeability
Helps keep skin healthy
Protects against preeclampsia during pregnancy
Can help reduce high blood pressure in pregnancy
Protects the bones and teeth from lead by inhibiting absorption of this metal

Calcium Deficiency Symptoms:

Aching joints
Brittle nails
Eczema
Elevated blood cholesterol
Heart palpitations
High blood pressure
Muscle Cramps
Insomnia
Nervousness
Numbness in arms or legs
Rheumatoid arthritis
Tooth decay
Depression
Hyperactivity
Hives
Psoriasis

�Got Milk?��Are You Really Getting Calcium?

No way! The damage that this one slogan is doing to the health of Americans, especially children, is tremendous. Consider the following written by Robert Cohen (www.notmilk.com):

A publication in the February, 2003 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Vol. 77, No. 2, 504-511) clearly demonstrates that eighteen years of milk consumption did not prevent hip fractures for post-menopausal women.

How many subjects participated in the study?

A mere 72,337. As part of Walter Willett's Harvard Nurses Study, investigator Diane Feskanich performed statistical tests of significance for 18 years of data including dietary intake of calcium (dairy and supplements) to determine her findings.

The conclusion reached from this observational analyses, is that dietary calcium plays little or no role in preventing bone loss. Drinking milk does not prevent osteoporosis. A total of 603 hip fractures were analyzed. Scientists determined that milk consumption was in no way associated with hip fracture risk. The same conclusion was reached for total calcium consumption.

The Harvard Nurses study previously determined that there is no positive association between teenaged milk consumption and the risk of adult fractures. (American Journal of Public Health 1997;87). As a matter of fact, just the opposite was found to be true. Women consuming greater amounts of calcium from dairy foods suffered significantly increased risks of hip fractures.

In light of these findings, the dairy industry milk mustache campaign has been proven to be one enormous deception. Bones break because women eating the wrong foods create an acid condition in their own bloodstreams, which must be neutralized by available calcium. The body achieves balance by taking calcium out of its own bones. Ergo, people eating the greatest amount of total animal protein are the ones experiencing accelerated rates of bone loss. The same Journal of Clinical Nutrition, (1995; 61, 4) confirmed this truth

"Dietary protein increases production of acid in the blood which can be neutralized by calcium mobilized from the skeleton."

Eighteen years earlier, as the Harvard Nurses study was just beginning, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1979;32,4) reported:

"Even when eating 1,400 mg of calcium daily, one can lose up to 4% of his or her bone mass each year while consuming a high-protein diet."

Why do you imagine that today's most recent study will not be publicized on tonight's 6 PM news, or headlined in your local newspaper? Because it lacks one critical ingredient. Cash. For a story to be released, it must be accompanied by paid dairy industry advertising. In this deceptively dangerous manner, most of us get our biased health information.

Milk? It does not do the body good.

Coral Calcium

How these people have been in business so long just amazes me! I used to get spammed at least ten times per day with advertisements suggesting that Coral Calcium cures just about everything!! I have often wondered just where the FDA police was during all of this hype.

Coral calcium is calcium carbonate and is no better than the calcium that is available in most drug stores or vitamin stores. What is calcium carbonate? Chalk! Put a piece in a glass of water and see how long it takes to dissolve�believe me, you will be there for longer than you care to know. Yes, you may get some benefit from it but it is not the most absorbable form of calcium and therefore not the most beneficial.

Ridiculous Claims:

It's from the ocean: Not everything in the ocean is wonderful. Ever read about how polluted our oceans are? Enough said.

The people in Okinawa live longer and look younger: When doing research on this you will find that their longevity is more than likely contributed to their diet and stress-free life. There is no supplement that will ever take the place of good nutritional balancing.

Disease Cure-All: This is the one that makes me cringe. There has not been one study to back up any cure from taking calcium (any kind) alone. Yes, the body needs calcium to function properly, but calcium, by itself, will not cure anything! I do believe in disease elimination using natural methods but there is no magic bullet and no magic supplement. If a company is selling a product claiming a �cure-all� this should raise huge red flags.

Calcium Orotate�The Best From of Calcium Available

According to studies conducted by Dr. Hans Nieper (Germany) only Calcium Orotate penetrates directly through the cell membrane, delivering calcium to the interior of the cell where it is readily utilized.

Orotates are mineral salts of orotic acid � used by plants and animals to make DNA and RNA. Hans Nieper, a physician and dabbler in offbeat theories of gravitation, used orotates clinically prior to 1980. He thought that orotate salts, being neutrally charged, pass easily through cell membranes. In effect, orotate ferries the mineral atoms into cells and tissues, producing higher concentrations.

Nieper promoted orotates as treatments for nearly every ailment imaginable and was consequently ignored; most of his medical claims were never rigorously tested. But in certain applications � such as athletic performance � where his ideas have recently received scientific scrutiny, they have been found to work. Nieper may have been on the right track after all.

Dr. Nieper's theoretical explanations of the mechanisms behind his stunning success in the clinical application of sophisticated mineral transporters rely heavily on the concept of the fixed pore mechanism of active transport. The theory called fixed pore mechanism suggests that a carrier molecule, in this case Orotic Acid (B-13), is attached to the compound being transported. This research has lead to the creation of mineral chelates called orotic acid chelates, or orotates which offers a 20 fold increase in utilizing minerals.

Calcium orotate was used by Nieper to treat bone loss and pain due to inflammation or osteoporosis, high blood pressure, angina pectoris, multiple sclerosis, encephalitis, retinitis, hepatitis, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, phlebitis and colitis. In addition, it is very effective against psoriasis, a scaling skin disorder. The long-term clinical tolerance and overall value of calcium orotate is far superior to other therapeutic calcium substances and to the so-called immune depressors.

Calcium Orotate is one of the three mineral transporters that is the most active in providing treatment for bone decalcification. Has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect on arthritis, arteriosclerosis, retinitis, encephalitis and phlebitis, psoriasis, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis and colitis. It can be very effective in re-calcifying the bone tissue following extensive radiation treatment of cancerous bone lesions.

Calcium Orotate tablets have been beneficial in:

Assisting with prevention of osteoporosis.
Helping to avoid muscle cramps.
Relieving the pain associated with disc problems.
Maintaining strong bones & teeth.
Keeping your heart beating regularly
Alleviation of insomnia
Helping the body metabolize iron
Reduced Stress
Increased alertness

We use Calcium Orotate along with the other orotates (magnesium, potassium, zinc and lithium) at Global Healing Center in a whole body, synergistic approach to eliminating disease. The results that we see using calcium orotate conclude that it is absorbed, transported and utilizied in the body better than any other form of calcium. It is time that the public knows the truth about calcium, its many benefits, why it is necessary and the best form available. Remember that he first step in getting healthy is always education and I believe that it is your right to know the truth about every hopeful treatment and prevention option available to you.

About The Author

Loretta Lanphier, ND, CCN, HHP is a Doctor of Naturopath, Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Holistic Health Practitioner in the Houston, TX area and Vice President of Global Healing Center, Inc. A teacher and educator, she counsels Global Healing Center clients on the aspects of getting the body healthy and keeping the body healthy.

As a cancer survivor, she is able to relate extensively, both as a patient and a practitioner, to clients suffering from disease. She is also involved in researching new alternative disease treatments and products. Dr. Lanphier is Assistant Editor and contributor to the worldwide newsletter Alternative Health & Healing.

Visit us on the web at: www.globalhealingcenter.com or email: staff@globalhealingcenter.com

Calcium The Key To Quick Weight Loss

2007-11-08T20:37:00.000+07:00

Are you dieting your way to bone loss?

Are you aware that the diet you follow may be depleting your bones of essential nutrients and increasing your chances of developing osteoporosis? Popular diets may promise quick weight loss, but calcium and other important nutrients are often missing from the menu, which can lead to bone loss.

And women who consistently limit what they eat to avoid gaining weight may undermine the health of their bones, according to a study by ARS researchers in California. (1)

The study looked at the eating behavior of women between the ages of 18 and 50 and found that those classified as "restrained eaters" had significantly lower bone mineral density and bone mineral content (key indicators of overall bone strength and health) than women who said they weren't concerned about what they ate.

"Exercise and eating a well-balanced diet with adequate calcium, are two of the best ways to keep your bones strong and healthy." advise the researchers.

Calcium is not only good for your bones but can help you maintain a healthy, low fat diet too. There has been increasing media coverage about numerous studies showing that a diet rich in calcium helps reduce body fat.

Why is calcium important in weight loss?

Calcium is a fat burner. High-calcium diets seem to favor burning rather than storing fat. Researchers say this is because calcium stored in fat cells plays an important role in fat storage and breakdown.

Calcium changes the efficiency of weight loss . In fact, study after study has shown that the people with the highest calcium intake overall weighed the least, and the people with the lowest calcium intake had the highest percentage of body fat. (2,3,4)

When overall calorie consumption is accounted for, calcium not only helps keep weight in check, but can be associated specifically with decreases in body fat. A low daily calcium intake is associated with greater tendency to gain weight, particularly in women. (5)

Researchers found that adolescent girls who consumed more calcium weighed less and had less body fat than girls who consumed the same amount of calories from other sources. (6)

Previous studies have shown that a higher calcium intake can block body fat production in adults and preschool children (7), but this was one of the first studies to show that it might have the same effect in body-conscious preteen and teenage girls.

But aren't dairy products fattening?

Some dieters consider dairy products to be fattening, but the evidence suggests the opposite is true.

Consumption of calcium-rich dairy foods can actually help to reduce and prevent obesity. Over 20 recent studies show that milk products actually contribute to weight loss.

A new study in obese adults, presented at the First Annual Nutrition Week Conference, showed that increasing calcium intake by the equivalent of two dairy servings per day could reduce the risk of obesity by as much as 70 percent. (8)

The study provided clinching evidence that calcium in low-fat dairy products can help adjust your body's fat-burning machinery and help keep your weight under control.

In another study, obese subjects placed on a high-calcium diet, with yogurt as the calcium source, showed markedly greater fat loss than those on a low-calcium diet. (9)

Numerous studies have shown that dairy calcium is more effective in reducing body fat than other forms of calcium. (10)

Why does diary calcium work so well?

Researchers believe that other nutrients found in milk products act in synergy with calcium to reduce fat more efficiently.

Glycomacropeptides (found in whey proteins derived from milk) in particular, are known to create feelings of satiety and fullness and decrease food intake. (11,12,13)

Foods that are a good source of calcium include cheese, milk, ice cream, baked beans and other dried legumes, dried figs, broccoli, most dark-green leafy vegetables, and soft fish bones like those in canned salmon.

Disclaimer: If you are under 18, pregnant, nursing or have health problems, consult your physician before starting any weight loss plan. The information here is not provided by medical professionals and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your physician before beginning any course of treatment.

References:

1. April 1999; Agricultural Research magazine
2. Zemel MB et al. [2000. FASEB J 14:1132-1138.]
3. Zemel MB. 2002. [J Am Coll Nutr 21: 146S-151S.]
4. Shi H et al. [2001. FASEB J 5:291-293.]
5. Jacqmain M et al. [2003. Am J Clin Nutr 77:1448-1452.]
6. Novotny R et al. [2003. Poster Presentation, Experimental Biology Meeting, April, San Diego, CA.]
7. Carruth BR and Skinner JD. [2001. T Int J Obesity Relat Metab Disord 25:559-566.]
8. Zemel MB et al. [Obes Res. 2004 Apr;12(4):582-90.]
9. Zemel MB et al. [2003. FASEB J A1088:679.3]
10. Heaney, R.P., Davies, K.M., Barger-Lux, M.J. [Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 21(2), 2002, pages 152S-155S.]
11. Gibbs J, Young RC, Smith GP.J Comp [Physiol Psychol 1973 Sep;84(3):488-95]
12. Della-Fera MA, Baile CA, Schneider BS, Grinker JA. [Science 1981 May 8;212(4495):687-9]
13. Della-Fera MA, Baile CA. [Physiol Behav 1981 Jun;26(6):979-83]

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Priya Shah is the Editor of The Glutathione Report and the webmaster of http://www.1whey2health.com
Visit Natural Weight Loss Tips for more articles, tips and resources on weight loss.
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Coral Calcium: Promoting Life’s Healing Properties

2007-11-06T12:30:00.000+07:00

Coral calcium is the most highly dissolvable and easily assimilated forms of calcium (long know to be extremely important in bone health) naturally occurring in the realm of the planet. Long used by alternative and holistic healthcare professionals and practitioners such as chiropractors, naturopaths and acupuncturists, coral calcium is now regarded as an essential supplement to healthful and natural living.

In this day and age of fast-paced living, it is increasingly important to care for the only body we will ever have. We are a highly complicated system of checks and balances and the only way that we can perform at our highest level of efficiency is to make sure that all of our biomechanics are maintained and optimized. Coral calcium helps regulate the alkalinity of our bodies assuring that cell health is maintained by controlling the acidity that we introduce into ourselves by being exposed to environmental and consumed pollutants. By maintaining an alkaline environment in our bodies, we are ensuring continued health and longevity of our tissues, both muscular and skeletal.

Long used in Japanese culture to promote health and longevity, coral calcium is made from surface coral which means that no living coral is endangered in the making of this healthy supplement. We are all becoming increasingly concerned with not only the health of our own bodies, but with the general health of the planet, especially marine life. Not only does coral calcium help promote our own health, it in no way harms marine life as it is harvested from nonliving, above ground coral.

From the time we start walking, we assault our bodies with our physical activities, poor diets, atmospheric pollutants, daily stresses and general abuse. Coral calcium helps to reverse these damages by promoting removal of waste and harmful toxins from the body. By providing highly absorbable sources of calcium and other important minerals, coral calcium helps the body restore itself to optimal levels of health and happiness.

Bone strength and density is huge concern for most women and an ever increasing number of men. The foods we eat, the beverages that we eat and the lifestyles that we lead often sap our bodies of the minerals that we need to support our ever increasing frames. Osteoporosis is an alarming epidemic and is something that we all need to be aware of. Coral Calcium is composed of the a very similar structure and combination of minerals that our own bone structure is made up of. Thus it promotes healing and strength of the very frame of our bodies the we have spent our lives breaking down.

The best part of coral calcium is that it is 100% natural and doesn’t contain any of the scary synthetic additives that many supplements contain that got us into our weakened position in the first place. By following the advice of many holistic healers and supporting your diet with coral calcium, you are helping your body heal itself with the very minerals that it is made up of. An excellent source of calcium and magnesium, coral calcium is proving to be an additional supplement to a healthy diet.

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Calcium: The Miracle Mineral

2007-11-06T12:24:00.000+07:00

We've heard it not only once or twice or even thrice but a lot of times. If you want healthy bones and teeth then pack up on the Calcium intake. While it is true that calcium is absolutely necessary to the health and strength of bones and teeth, this essential mineral also serves several other important purposes in the body. Yet, many people still routinely fail to consume enough calcium in their daily diets.

In addition to the benefits to teeth and bones, calcium plays a role in blood clotting, muscle functions, and the cell membranes maintenance. It is also important to the prevention of debilitating bone diseases, such as osteoporosis.

Despite the known importance of consuming adequate amounts of calcium daily, some research have found that as much as 75% of Americans do not have a sufficient daily intake of calcium. Comprising most of these numbers are those who are following strict vegetarian diets.

Fortunately, there are several varieties of calcium supplements available on the market. Adults need between 1000 mgs and 1300 mgs of calcium per day and should not exceed beyond 2500 mgs as overdose in daily calcium intake can cause other health problems. Your health care professional can help you to choose the amount that you need daily as preexisting conditions, such as bone loss or damage due to previous deficiencies, can make a difference in how much you should be taking daily. The most common calcium supplements include calcium citrate, calcium carbonate, oyster shell or bone meal based calcium supplements, coral calcium, and calcium gluconate and calcium lactate based supplements.

In choosing your supplement, you should be aware of how to read the label to ensure that you are getting the amount of calcium that you think you are. Elemental calcium is the term used for the calcium that your body will be able to absorb. Some supplements have this and other types of calcium, but it is only the elemental calcium that can count towards your daily intake. Calcium is absorbed best in acidic circumstances, which is why many supplements are recommended for use after meals, when the stomach acids are at higher levels.

Current research has found that calcium citrate is the most efficient of the supplements because it can be absorbed easily by the system. However, although it is absorbed easier and can be taken at any time of day, whether or not there is food in the stomach, this type of calcium supplement often contains less of the elemental calcium, and thus more pills daily will be needed. On the other hand, calcium carbonate is the most common over the counter calcium supplement. It has a special instruction though and that is it should be taken only after meals when there is increased stomach acid production. These, however, should be watched for sodium content.

Calcium is needed by our system to enable us to live healthy and normal lives. Insufficient daily supply of this mineral in our body can lead to numerous health problems causing not only a lot of damage in the pockets but also an abnormal lifestyle. To avoid these complications and inconvenience, it is therefore essential to intake the right amount of calcium needed daily by our body. A little research and consultation with a nutritional specialist can help you to plan your daily diet so as to be able to obtain the healthy amount of daily calcium.

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About the Author

Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about Vitamins, please go to: http://vitamins.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/