Most people know by now that Osteoporosis
is dangerous and can affect post-menopausal women and regular exercise is often
cited as a key player in the fight against this condition. Calcium is also very important for bone density and is actually the most highly prevalent
mineral in our bodies but it's worth bearing in mind that as we age our bodies find calcium less easy to absorb.
There are many other reasons why calcium is necessary for prolonging good
health.
It’s also used in some degree for
controlling blood pressure, hormone secretion and transmitting nerve signals
and is a contributory factor in muscle contraction. This includes the hardest working muscle in our bodies, the heart.
These are some of key roles it plays in
our day to day functions:
Strong teeth (and bones)
Assisting is muscle contraction
Supporting the heart
Helping blood to clot effectively
The best way to get the 1000ml of one’s
daily calcium requirement is through diet.
However, as some people choose to avoid eating dairy this is not always
possible and it’s believed that supplements are not as effective as the calcium
found naturally in, for instance, yogurt.
Plain yogurt is very calcium rich so provides a quick and easy source
together with providing other nutritional benefits such as amino acids and
also aids in digestive health.
For non-dairy eaters foods such as tofu
contain calcium and many others including cereals and some orange juice is
fortified with calcium – so that’s something to look-out for.
Another consideration for vegetarians or
vegans is that while some vegetables, ie: kale and broccoli, contain healthy
levels of calcium, others such as spinach, actually chemically attach to the calcium,
effectively binding it and thereby reducing its ability to be absorbed and
processed by the body.
Calcium is a very vital
mineral and the best way to get our daily requirement is through diet, so it’s
a good idea to target foods that provide high levels. In addition to those already mentioned calcium is also found in avocado, nuts and some fish.
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