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