Calcium is Important!

As most of you have heard, calcium is the main component for strong bones. However, did you know that it's extremely important for your brain as well? Calcium helps regulate the neurotransmitters that are crucial for brain function. According to Patrick McDowell, author of The Importance of Calcium article, 99% of our body's calcium sits in our bones and teeth, waiting to be transferred and stored for multiple purposes. The rest is distributed through the blood stream and utilized by the cells.

The main reason we need to consume calcium is because it's the key to obtaining healthy joints. It can save us from osteoporosis and skeletal problems that are acquired when not enough calcium is in our diet. Similar to the information I found in McDowell's article, Maureen Salamon, in her Exercise and Bone Density excerpt, speaks about how exercise and intake of calcium is super crucial for young women to adults in order to avoid fractures and strengthen bones.

"Exercise, and particularly strength training, prompts new bone growth. Strength training includes weightlifting but involves a lot more than just barbells and dumbbells. It refers to any form of weight-bearing exercise that works against the pull of gravity -- for example, walking, jogging, aerobics, dancing and stair climbing. Walking or jogging as little as one hour, three times a week, has well-known cardiovascular benefits but also helps slow down or prevent further bone loss. Also when calcium levels fall too low, nerve and muscle impairments happen. The reason why I am telling you this is because calcium consumption is lowering, creating health problems in children and adults, especially women; women during menopause tend to have weaker bones! All children go through a growth spurt time period, where calcium has to play a big role in bone development, therefore they need to take extra calcium supplements or eat foods that are calcium-rich," says Maureen.

Like I mentioned in my blog about milk, there are many foods that have an abundant amount of calcium and can be found in your local grocery store. Foods such as broccoli, kelp, spinach, almonds, quinoa, okra, blackstrap molasses and sardines can highly boost your calcium levels.

One of my friends asked me, how do you know when you’re getting enough calcium? From personal experience as well as my mother’s knowledge, you begin to experience muscle spasms, muscle pains, or a tingling/numbing sensation in your hands or your feet. I found out I had anemia and lack of calcium, so I went through the muscle spasms and tingling sensations in my hands quite often.

Something to be cautious of is to take calcium in moderation. Too little calcium can cause health problems, but so can too much. Men can develop kidney stones, and women develop fatigue, increased urination, and even nausea. Therefore, watch how much you intake and make sure it’s not too much!

Finally, a cool fact that I have not shared with you yet... Did you know Vitamin D is also important to promote the proper bone absorption of calcium?  The absorption of this mineral could be adversely affected if your body has insufficient levels of vitamin D. Have a piece of salmon or go out and enjoy the sun because according to John’s Hopkins School of Medicine, the body manufactures vitamin D when exposed to sunshine, and it is recommended people get 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine 3 times a week!

If you think you are low on calcium or vitamin D, try my multiple methods of consumption and let me know how you feel after a few weeks.

Take a look at this website about vitamin D, disregard the menopause part.
http://menopause.about.com/od/postmenopausehealthrisks/a/Daily-VitD-Meno.htm

and calcium!
http://healthylifejournal.org/healthy-living/the-importance-of-calcium/