Why do we Need Calcium?

Of all the vitamins and minerals the human body needs on a regular basis, calcium is among the most important. But it may well be one of the most difficult to get in correct amounts. People sometimes overlook this essential mineral and don’t make an effort to get calcium in sufficient amounts.

Most of us know that calcium is important for strong, healthy bones but it is also essential for muscles, the brain and the nervous system. In fact, research has shown that our brains only process information, sending and receiving signals correctly, if there is sufficient calcium, magnesium and a few other chemicals present.

If we don’t put new calcium in on a regular basis the body will begin to take what it needs from the bones. Over a period of time this can lead to brittle bones that are easily broken. Older people are often at risk of this condition but almost anyone can suffer from such maladies as osteoporosis.

Calcium is extremely important to babies and growing children because their bones and muscles grow every day, at an amazing rate. While many people don’t realize how important calcium is and don’t pay enough attention to including calcium in the diet, it is rather easy to get in sufficient amounts. Generally, it is not possible to ingest harmful amounts of calcium because it is absorbed and used by the body rather quickly. In fact, the body doesn’t store calcium in large amounts.

There are a number of foods that provide the right amounts of calcium. People could easily look for foods of this type and make them a part of their regular diet. We often think of dairy products as giving us the calcium we need and this is the case for most of us. But fresh green vegetables and some other foods are also sources of calcium.

To repeat the body’s basic need for calcium – we need it for our bones and teeth, for the muscles, for the nervous system and the brain. Calcium is even important for proper clotting of the blood when we have a wound or injury. Unfortunately, most people don’t get enough calcium on a daily basis and eventually the calcium level in their bodies drops to a harmful level. This often goes unrecognized until the bones are brittle and porous.

Since we normally lose about 400 milligrams of calcium every day we may have to take in a minimum of 500 to 700 milligrams as we grow. Older people might need to get more than that amount every day to keep the bones and other parts of the body from deteriorating to a harmful state. Some women must get 1200 milligrams of calcium daily, especially during pregnancy.

It may be wise to add a calcium supplement to the diet to ensure that the body gets enough of this essential substance. Vitamin pills often contain a small amount of the daily calcium requirement. Calcium supplements contain more of this crucial substance. Some people may need such a supplement daily.