07/01/2021
After a discussion with a friend today about the importance of calcium I decided to find out more. Did you know:
Calcium and vitamin D are essential to building strong, dense bones when you’re young and to keeping them strong and healthy as you age. Your heart, muscles and nerves also need calcium to function properly. Some studies suggest that calcium, along with vitamin D, may have benefits beyond bone health: perhaps protecting against cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Every day, we lose calcium through our skin, nails, hair, sweat, urine and faeces. Our bodies cannot produce its own calcium. That’s why it’s important to get enough calcium from the food we eat. When we don’t get the calcium our body needs, it is taken from our bones. This is fine once in a while, but if it happens too often, bones get weak and easier to break.
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.
So what food has Calcium?
yogurt
milk
fortified dairy alternatives, such as soy milk
sardines and salmon
cheese
tofu
green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, turnip leaves, watercress, and kale
many fortified breakfast cereals
fortified fruit juices
nuts and seeds, especially almonds, sesame, and chia
legumes and grains
cornmeal and corn tortillas
Some dark green vegetables, such as spinach, contain calcium. However, they also contain high levels of oxalic acid. Oxalic acid reduces the body’s ability to absorb calcium, according to studies.