Calcium: Good For Bones & Teeth
Calcium is probably best known for strengthening bones and teeth. In fact, most of the calcium in our bodies is stored in the bones and teeth. It’s also essential during the senior years, when bones start to break down faster than they can rebuild.
Calcium also plays an important role in several other body functions, including: Nerve signal transmission
Hormone release
Muscle contraction
Blood vessel function
Blood clotting There’s also some early evidence that calcium might lower blood pressure and help protect against colorectal and prostate cancers.
How Much Calcium Do You Need?
How much calcium you need depends on your age and gender. The recommended daily dietary allowances for calcium are: Age Male Female 1-3 years 700 mg 700 mg 4-8 years 1,000 mg 1,000 mg 9-13 years 1,300 mg 1,300 mg 14-18 years 1,300 mg 1,300 mg 19-50 years 1,000 mg 1,000 mg 51-70 years 1,000 mg 1,200 mg 71+ years 1,200 mg 1,200 mg Getting much more than the recommended amount of calcium from food and supplements increases the risk of side effects, so it’s best to avoid taking too much.
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What Does The Department Of Health And Social Care Advise?
If you take calcium supplements, do not take too much as this could be harmful.
Why We Need Calcium
Calcium plays various roles in the body. As children grow, calcium contributes to the development of their bones.
Females who have already experienced menopause can lose bone density at a higher rate than males or younger people. They have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, and a doctor may recommend calcium supplements. The calcium helps the proteins in muscle carry out the work of contraction.
When the body pumps the calcium out of the muscle, the muscle will relax. Cardiovascular system Calcium plays a key role in blood clotting. Calcium’s role in muscle function includes maintaining the action of the heart muscle.
Calcium relaxes the smooth muscle that surrounds blood vessels. Find out more about vitamin D and why we need it. Without calcium, some key enzymes cannot work efficiently.