The Big Debate on Calcium

The average adult’s weight is made up of about two per cent calcium. Most of this is found in the skeleton and teeth; the rest is stored in the tissues or blood. Calcium is vital for healthy teeth and bones.

Calcium plays a role in:

Strengthening bones and teeth
Regulating muscle functioning, such as contraction and relaxation
Regulating heart functioning
Blood clotting
Transmission of nervous system messages
Enzyme function.functioning of nerves and muscle tissue.

If the body notices that not enough calcium is circulating in the blood, it will use hormones to reduce the amount put out by the kidneys in the urine. If not enough calcium is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, calcium will be taken from the bones. If your dietary intake of calcium is constantly low, your body will eventually remove so much calcium from the skeleton that your bones will become weak and brittle.It is much better to get calcium from foods (which also provide other nutrients) than from calcium supplements. If you have difficulty eating enough foods rich in calcium, you might consider a calcium supplement, especially if you are at risk of developing osteoporosis. It’s a good idea to discuss this with your health care professional. If you do take calcium supplements, make sure you don’t take more than the amount recommended on the bottle (usually 600–1,500mg per day). Too much calcium may cause gastrointestinal upsets, such as bloating and constipation. Many Calcium supplements are made of limestone and are not naturally produced. When chosing a calcium supplement always check for quality of product, ask your Nutrition Specialist in your local health food store. In my opinion some of the better Calcium Supplements on the market now that are of veryhigh quality are from companies like Flora, New Roots, New Chapters, Progressive. (click on links to side that will bring you to these companies websites.)