| Most people know that calcium is important to | | | | instruction. Although men don’t go through |
| building and maintaining strong bones, teeth, and | | | | menopause, they do produce fewer hormones as |
| muscles. However, many are unaware of the ... other | | | | they age, and so are also at increased risk of |
| important roles calcium plays in the body: it helps with | | | | developing osteoporosis. |
| digestion through the production of hormones and | | | | Calcium and how we keep it workingThe right |
| enzymes, helps nerves pass the messages needed | | | | amount of calcium intake is a major concern today, |
| to contract the heart and other muscles in the body, | | | | especially for older women, who are at high risk for |
| assists in normal blood clotting, and may help prevent | | | | osteoporosis. As the most common mineral in the |
| high blood pressure and colon cancer. | | | | body, calcium is important to everyone. We depend |
| Without a good supply of calcium, you are almost | | | | on calcium for the development of strong bones and |
| certain to end up with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is | | | | teeth, proper muscle action, heart health, and a |
| a bone disease that causes the bones to become | | | | functioning nervous system. Calcium also helps in |
| thin and brittle. 99 percent of all the calcium in your | | | | maintaining the body's acid balance, as well as in blood |
| body is located in the teeth and bones. | | | | clotting and other processes. |
| The remaining 1 percent is in the blood stream, this 1 | | | | Even when major symptoms like bone loss are not |
| percent is so important to the normal functioning of | | | | there, a calcium deficiency in the body can cause |
| our bodily functions that your body will take away | | | | other problems, including muscle pains and cramps, |
| calcium from its bones to perform them if you | | | | anxiety, sleep disorders, and hyperactivity. |
| don’t get enough in your diet. | | | | Do we need a better diet to stop this from |
| Other causes besides poor diet also cause | | | | happening? If we do, we should first think about |
| osteoporosis. After the age 35, your bone density | | | | making the most of the calcium that's already given |
| decreases. This is because the body produces less | | | | to us in our food. We know that eating a particular |
| estrogen and testosterone, hormones that control | | | | food is not enough after a certain age. We also need |
| how fast the body uses calcium. Fewer hormones in | | | | to exercise, and take vitamins that help as well. |
| the system mean less calcium in the bones, and end | | | | Maintaining a healthy acid balance by following a diet |
| up causing greater bone loss. | | | | that consists of the right foods such as vegetables |
| Women are at greater risk of developing | | | | and fruits is important as well. |
| osteoporosis after menopause because their bodies | | | | The diet we choose to use needs to be able to do |
| completely stop making estrogen. They also usually | | | | everything that is needed. It needs to maintain a |
| have thinner bones and smaller skeletons to begin | | | | good acid level, keep calcium high, and also keep us |
| with, which leaves them more vulnerable to the | | | | energized to be able to take on our day. |
| disease. | | | | It is also important to get a good amount of sunlight |
| This does not mean how ever, that osteoporosis is a | | | | so that our body can produce Vitamin D which is |
| disease just for women, and this thought has not | | | | used to absorb calcium from foods. People who live |
| served men well. For example, doctors are more | | | | in the northern parts of the world need a natural |
| likely to educate women than men about the | | | | vitamin D supplement such as fish liver oil during the |
| importance of a diet high in calcium and supplements. | | | | winter months, when sunlight and outdoor activities |
| They may not be so quick to give men the same | | | | are at a low. |