| Calcium plays an important role in | | | | amount of calcium absorbed from plant |
| building healthy teeth and bones. What | | | | sources is greater than that absorbed |
| many people do not know is that calcium | | | | from milk. |
| is vital to every cell of the body for | | | | Although American women consume |
| muscle function, nerve transmission, | | | | tremendous amounts of calcium, their |
| blood clotting and many other uses. | | | | rates of osteoporosis are among the |
| Calcium is indeed a very important | | | | highest in the world as the calcium from |
| nutrient to have in our diet. | | | | dairy products are not absorbed well. |
| Calcium is a mineral that the body needs | | | | Conversely, Chinese people consume half |
| for numerous functions, including | | | | as much calcium but most of it from |
| building and maintaining bones and | | | | plant sources and have very low |
| teeth, blood clotting, the transmission | | | | incidence of the bone disease. |
| of nerve impulses, and the regulation of | | | | High protein diets appear to lead to |
| the heart's rhythm. Calcium has the | | | | increased calcium losses. It is |
| potential to relieve depression and | | | | advisable to take a diet that consists |
| anxiety associated with premenstrual | | | | of more vegetables. Plant sources of |
| syndrome. It can also control high blood | | | | calcium include dried beans, broccoli, |
| pressure, and ward off strokes. | | | | and greens like beet, collards, spinach, |
| When you do not get enough calcium in | | | | kale, mustard and turnip. |
| your diet, the calcium stored in your | | | | In order for your body to properly use |
| bones will be used to supply the cells | | | | fat-soluble vitamins, you need to have |
| of your body with calcium. Hence, your | | | | enough fats in your foods. Calcium too |
| bones suffer the consequences of a | | | | requires fats for proper absorption. If |
| low-calcium diet and they become more | | | | you do not have enough fat in your diet, |
| susceptible to fractures. | | | | your body will not be able to properly |
| Calcium plays a key role in metabolic | | | | use calcium and other fat-soluble |
| disorders linked to obesity and insulin | | | | vitamins. |
| resistance. A diet low in calcium | | | | Coconut oil improves calcium and |
| literally stockpiles fat cells while a | | | | magnesium absorption and supports the |
| duet rich in calcium depletes them. | | | | development of strong bones and teeth. |
| Taking sufficient calcium prevents | | | | The fat in coconut oil is made up of |
| weight gain. A high calcium diet leads | | | | medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) which |
| to the release of a hormone which sends | | | | are more easily digested than the |
| signals to the body's fat cells to lose | | | | long-chain fatty acids found in other |
| weight. | | | | oils. |
| A lack of calcium is one of the main | | | | MCFAs are processed directly in the |
| causes of osteoporosis. Often, people | | | | liver and immediately converted into |
| are encouraged to drink milk to build up | | | | energy. There is therefore less strain |
| their calcium stores to prevent | | | | on the liver, pancreas and digestive |
| osteoporosis. However, taking milk as a | | | | system and, being easily digested, they |
| calcium source has been vastly | | | | also tend to improve the absorption of |
| over-rated. Studies have revealed the | | | | other nutrients like calcium. |