| Copyright 2006 Lack of Calcium | | | | Bone calcium begins to decrease in adulthood |
| | | | and continued loss of bone occurs as we age, |
| Today we lack a lot of calcium in our diets. | | | | found to do so more in women. |
| We need a good amount of calcium to keep our | | | | |
| bones teeth muscles and blood stream healthy. | | | | Teenagers, especially girls, whose diets |
| Calcium is supposed to be the most commonly | | | | don't give the nutrients to build bones to |
| found mineral in humans today, yet even | | | | their best are at a higher risk of developing |
| though it is still true, we are lacking the | | | | the bone disease osteoporosis, which is |
| proper amount. | | | | becoming more of a problem every day. |
| | | | Osteoporosis causes fractures in weak bones |
| Because of this, our bones are getting weaker | | | | and can make a persons bones easier to break. |
| and more fragile, making us perfect targets | | | | |
| for the bone disease osteoporosis. Calcium is | | | | Calcium also plays an important role in |
| not that hard to get into our bodies. | | | | muscle contraction, sending messages through |
| | | | the nerves, and the release of hormones. If |
| It can be found in dairy products, beans, and | | | | blood calcium levels are low, calcium is |
| other nutritional foods as well. We do not | | | | taken from the bones to ensure normal cell |
| seem to get enough intake of these types of | | | | function. |
| foods, so there for our calcium levels are | | | | |
| usually low. | | | | When children get enough calcium and physical |
| | | | activity during childhood and the teen years, |
| One of the things wrong with this is that the | | | | they can start out their adult lives with the |
| recommended servings is about to change. | | | | strongest bones possible. If how ever they do |
| Where it used to be we should drink one glass | | | | not get the right amount they can find that |
| of milk a day and get at least three servings | | | | their bones and teeth can grow weak quicker |
| of dairy or beans, it is about to change to | | | | then they should. |
| where we are recommended 3 glasses of milk a | | | | |
| day and at least 6 servings of dairy or beans | | | | By feeding your child food that has enough |
| a day, and that is just for calcium. | | | | calcium in it, you are helping them to build |
| | | | strong bones and teeth. You are also enabling |
| We are not eating right and because of it we | | | | them to be able to have a good and healthy |
| are losing our bones teeth and muscles. | | | | diet through out their lives. |
| Calcium is needed not only for those but it | | | | |
| also helps with contraction of muscles, and | | | | People today are very unhealthy, low calcium |
| as you may know, our most important muscle is | | | | intake as a child is part of the problem. |
| our heart. With our calcium levels dropping | | | | Children need the right amount of calcium to |
| we are slowly enabling our heart to get heart | | | | stay strong, and without that needed calcium |
| disease, and high blood pressure. | | | | they grow to be obese, weak, and their bones |
| | | | break easier. |
| We must put a stop to this before it is too | | | | |
| late. Over half the population of America | | | | When we are children, we are not able to make |
| suffers from heart disease already. If we | | | | sure we are getting what we need, so it is up |
| dont start getting the right amount of | | | | to the parent to make sure the child gets |
| calcium needed we are going to end up with | | | | what is needed. Children also wont eat |
| the whole country having heart disease. | | | | everything that is put in front of them. This |
| | | | is a small problem, but it is easily fixed. |
| Calcium in Kids | | | | |
| | | | Some of the things that seem like snacks |
| During childhood, the body uses calcium to | | | | actually have a good amount of calcium in |
| build strong bones and teeth: a process that | | | | them. Ice cream being one example, anything |
| is finished by the end of the teenage years. | | | | with dairy in it has calcium in it. |