Calcium

Calcium is especially important for women and bone health. All people should take steps to prevent the development of osteoporosis. It is the most frequently occurring bone disease in the United States, affecting 55% of those ages 50 and older. Calcium can help prevent osteoporosis. Women are at greater risk for this disease because they have a lower peak bone mass due to smaller stature and also because they experience a rapid postmenopausal bone loss. However, men can obtain the condition too.

How much daily Calcium should you intake?
The National Academy of Sciences recommends a calcium intake of 1,000 to 1,200 mg/day for all adults and 1,300 mg for pregnant and lactating females ages 14 to 18. You should take less than 500 mg of calcium at a time to maximize absorption since the body allows absorption of only about 20% to 30% of ingested calcium.

Osteoporosis and exercise:
Everyone knows that muscles respond to exercise by becoming stronger; however, it is not as widely known that bone also becomes stronger in response to exercise. Exercise is a good way to addition to taking Calcium to help keep your bones strong.

Other benefits of Calcium include:

• blood coagulation
• nerve function
• production of energy
• protects your heart
• proper immune function and muscle contraction
• helps keep the weight off
• improves premenstrual moods
• protects against colon cancer