Top Health Benefits of Calcium and calcium supplement
Top calcium health benefits are given here in details.
Making Strong Bones
Calcium is critical in the early age till 20 when bones are solidifying and the body is achieving its peak bone mass. The greater the peak bone mass, the longer one can delay osteoporosis or loss of bone mass at a later age. More than 10 million US adults are affected by osteoporosis and it is one of the leading causes of broken bones in the elderly.
Fights colon cancer
Calcium and vitamin D are good at protecting against cancer. A study called the Polyp Prevention Trial found that supplementing with both lowered the risk of polyp recurrence by 18 percent. For calcium, aim for 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams daily from food and supplements.
Weight management
Blood pressure and heart health
Calcium-rich foods help relax smooth muscle, found in the veins and arteries, and can help reduce blood pressure. The DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) recommends a diet high in calcium to help improve blood pressure. (Note, full-fat dairy has been shown to be healthier compared to low-fat dairy. (R)
Reduces Premenstrual Depression
Adequate amounts of calcium lessen the symptoms of a premenstrual syndrome like dizziness, mood swings, hypertension and many others. Low levels of the mineral might trigger the release of the hormones that are responsible for premenstrual mood swings including irritability and depression.
Protects Cardiac Muscles
Calcium protects your heart muscles. Sufficient amounts of calcium can help cardiac muscles to contract and relax properly. It also helps the nervous system maintain the proper pressure in your arteries. If there is a calcium drop, a hormone called calcitriol is released, which contracts the smooth muscles of the arteries, thereby increasing the blood pressure. Cardiac muscles need extracellular calcium ions for contraction. When the intracellular concentration of calcium increases, the ions gather together on the protein troponin. This stimulates the secretion of extracellular fluid and the intracellular stores, including that of the skeletal muscle, which is only activated by calcium stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Prevents Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are actually crystallized deposits of calcium and other minerals in the human urinary tract. The most common form of kidney stones is oxalate stones. Previously, it was thought that high calcium intake or high absorption of the mineral develop kidney stones, but the latest studies show that high dietary calcium intake decreases the risk of kidney stones considerably. In short, dietary calcium does not cause kidney stones, but excess amounts of the mineral present in water results in kidney stones. Other factors like high oxalate consumption from leafy vegetables like kale and spinach, as well as reduced fluid consumption, can prove to be a big cause for kidney stones.
Controls Alkaline PH Level
Junk foods, excess sugars, and preserved food items contribute in forming acidity in the body, which in turn could give rise to various disease conditions like cancer, kidney stones, and hypertension. Calcium helps to maintain a healthy pH level, thereby improving your vitality and overall health.
Dental Care
Calcium protects your teeth by keeping the jaw bone strong and sturdy throughout your life, which in turn ensures tight fitting teeth where bacteria cannot thrive. Thus, before your teeth and gums start giving you any trouble, be sure to maintain a calcium-rich diet. Its intake should be high, especially at young ages, so that your children naturally grow up with strong teeth.
Transportation of Nutrients
Calcium helps in the easy movement of nutrients across cell membranes and organs of the body. Calcium, being the most important mineral, tends to get neglected the most. Most children fuss about having milk and eventually stop drinking milk altogether. It should be widely known that such deficiencies of calcium can result in many serious diseases over the long term. It is a vital element in any healthy human diet. If milk and dairy products are not desirable, try to combine these ingredients with other cereals and make recipes that involve milk and dairy products. Mostly supplement stores and pharmacists have calcium supplements in their stores to avail health benefits of calcium.
