Calcium Supplements Vs Calcium Rich Foods

By Author: Estelle Walls
Total Articles: 1
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Very few people are getting enough calcium in their diet these days. Children are replacing milk with more sodas and sugary fruit juices, and teenagers as well as adults are cutting back on dairy products in order to control their weight. For post-menopausal women, it is even more important to increase the amount of calcium in their diet due to the loss of estrogen. In addition, recent research has shown that calcium is not as effective without taking Vitamin D along with it, and everyone is trying to stay out of the sun even though it is an excellent source of this vitamin.

Therefore taking calcium supplements each day is extremely important in order to maintain strong bones and teeth—and to avoid osteoporosis. Scientists also believe calcium is used by every organ in the human body as well as in nerves, muscles and the heart. With over 35% of the body's mineral composition consisting of calcium, many nutritionists believe it can also help fight heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Here are the minimum amounts of calcium required each day per age group:

Children age 1-3 500 mg.
Children age 4-8 ...
... 700 mg.
Children age 9-11 1000 mg.
Teens age 12-18 1300 mg.
Men and Women 50; Men >70 1300 mg.

When compared to the food groups containing the most amounts of calcium, it is apparent that most people are probably not getting enough through diet alone:

Milk - 290-300 mg in 1 cup
Yogurt - 240-400 mg in 1 cup
Swiss cheese - 250-270 mg in 1oz
Sardines in oil with bones - 370 mg in 3oz

Since very few people are getting enough calcium in the food they eat, calcium supplements are an easy way to make sure you are getting your daily requirement. But not all supplements are alike. Look for those that also contain Vitamin D to increase calcium absorption, Vitamin K that is required for the production of bone, and magnesium to encourage bone growth. Since there are so many varieties of supplements to choose from, look on the container label for the amount of elemental calcium it contains. This refers to the amount of calcium in the supplement that's available for your body to absorb.

In addition to a lifestyle that involves regular weight bearing exercises and limits the use of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine, calcium supplements will help provide you with an excellent chance for a healthy body well into your old age.

This Article was Written for AlgaeCal Calcium Supplements. You can visit: http://www.algaecal.com .