This entry was posted 11 years, 7 months ago.
October 21, 2011
The importance of such mineral as calcium for proper health of our bones and for our dental health is well known. Bone and dental tissues tend to wear out very fast, that is why it is being said a lot in modern media how vital it is for us all to control our daily intake of calcium and satisfy our body needs in this mineral. However, health effects of calcium are not limited by only bone or dental health. It plays a role for our metabolism and strengthens our muscles, too. A proper calcium consumption is very important, especially after a certain age when loss of bones and muscle power starts taking place.
Apart of its being a key element of human skeleton and teeth, calcium is vital for normal functioning of our nervous system and muscles. Studies have shown that a lack of calcium in the body is linked to kidney stone development, problem with blood vessels and other disorders. Osteoporosis is another very common effect of insufficient daily intake of calcium, and it is known that all women after 55 are very prone to developing this health condition. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities to enrich our body with this mineral in order to enjoy health effects of calcium to the fullest.
Low fat milk is considered among the best food sources of calcium. However, all dairy products like cheese, yogurt, butter and so on have very high calcium content. It is also possible to use vegetables like spinach, kale, turnip, or collards; fruit like oranges, soy products, beans and other natural food sources of calcium. 
There’s a great deal of this mineral in fish, red meat, almonds, brown sugar, blackstrap molasses, sesame seeds, and corm flour. Herbal sources of calcium embrace such medicinal herbs as dill, oregano, parsley, spearmint, thyme, sage, majoram, rosemary, basil, tarragon, bay leaf, coriander leaf, and many others.
Daily calcium intake is specified by specialists, and it is recommended to avoid calcium overdose as it is linked to unwanted side effects (dehydration, moderate digestive problems, etc.) and affect the absorption of other minerals, like zinc, magnesium or iron. Daily calcium intake for infants should not exceed 400-600 mg, for children below 5 it should be about 800 mg a day, for children 6-12 years it should be between 1000 and 1200 mg a day, for teenagers and young adults – 1200 – 1500 mg a day, for men and women below 50 – 1200 – 1300 mg, for people over 50 – 1300 – 1500 mg.
It is also necessary to remember that in order for our body to absorb calcium properly, plenty of Vitamin D is required. This vitamin can be produced in our body as a result of sunlight exposure, and naturally it occurs in very few foods (egg yolks, fish, etc.). Nowadays, various products in the market like orange juice or milk are fortified with not only calcium, but Vitamin D as well, in order to create a more favorable environment for calcium absorption. To strengthen the above mentioned health effects of calcium, it is recommended to provide your body with proper amounts of magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids and folic acid, as well as avoid all types of substance abuse.
Author Info: Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.
October 23rd, 2011 at 5:19 am
The infos provided in this website is very helpful. Thanks for sharing this information.