Bookmark Website  | Free Registration  | The Team
The Lounge  | Champions  | The Wire |  Schedule |  Audio  |  Arcade  |  The Top Ten  |  Historical  |  Email  |  Video

Calcium and Women: For More Than Just Bones


For women, calcium is one of the most important nutrients required during all stages of life. It is essential to the health of our bones, teeth, skin, heart, muscle, nerves and for proper blood clotting. Between age 12 through 35, the body accumulates most of the calcium it will use to prevent bone loss common in post-menopausal women. During this time intake should be between 1000 and 1500 mg/day (adolescent and pregnant woman requiring the most).

Meeting these requirements through our diet can be difficult. Vegetarians tend to assimilate calcium more efficiently therefore their daily requirement may be lower. Factors such as a diet high in phosphorus and refined sugar (pop, junk, and convenience foods) and high protein intake lead to calcium depletion. Caffeine tends to interfere with absorption as does hormonal changes such as a drop in estrogen during menopause.

During pregnancy, a woman's body ensures that the baby receives an adequate amount of calcium. Throughout weeks 20-40, the fetus will accumulate up to 28g of calcium daily. Luckily the body develops the ability to retain greater amounts of calcium from our diet as well as absorb more through the intestinal lining.

Well known for preventing bone loss, this mineral also has a relaxing effect on muscle. Leg cramps, menstrual pain, and back problems all benefit from calcium. Some studies show that it lowers blood pressure and helps to strengthen the heart beat. It also strengthens the transmission of nerve impulses and can there fore be used in the treatment of stress-related illnesses and nervous disorders. It has a very calming effect and works well when taken at bedtime for insomnia.

Good vegetarian sources of dietary calcium include broccoli, kale, almonds, blackstrap molasses, sesame seeds, kelp and tofu. Non-vegetarian sources include dairy products, salmon (with bones) and sardines. Because dairy may contain residual amounts of hormones and antibiotics, and fish has a possible risk of heavy metal and toxic chemical (PCB's, DDT) contamination, vegetarian sources are recommended, (especially during pregnancy).

Calcium supplements can help protect against deficiency. Look for calcium citrate on the label and avoid bone meal, dolomite, and oyster shell as these may contain high lead levels. Liquid supplements are absorbed well and are recommended if you take calcium to prevent cramping and insomnia. Make sure it contains equal or half the amount of magnesium. The addition of vitamin D is good, but don't exceed 400mg of it per day. For best absorption, divide doses of calcium throughout the day and take no more than 500mg at a time for best absorption.

It is important to look toward good nutrition to provide the bulk of your daily requirements, then supplement the remainder. 1 cup broccoli, 1/2 cup tofu, 1/4 cup almonds, 1 tbls basil, plus a 600mg supplement furnishes enough calcium for one day - and your body benefits from the countless additional nutrients your meal provides!

Stacelynn Caughlan is a Clinical Nutritionist and Certified Herbalist who specializes in pregnancy, birth and childhood. She is currently the editor of http://www.motherandchildhealth.com an online resource for women looking for information on natural health and healing for themselves and their families.


MORE RESOURCES:

Combined supplements no better for cholesterol
Fox News
Red yeast rice supplements usually cost about $20 for a bottle of between 100 and 200 600-milligram tablets. Previous studies found that phytosterols, plant-derived steroids found in vegetable oil, lower LDL levels when used alone. Outside of dietary ...



The Dangers Lurking in Male Sexual Supplements
TIME
“Rock Hard” and similar so-called “natural” supplements for men often contain potentially dangerous drugs — some of which have never been tested on animals, let alone humans. In an editorial published in JAMA Internal Medicine, Pieter Cohen, assistant ...



Dangers of sexual enhancement supplements: why men should avoid them
Boston.com (blog)
Men who opt to buy fake Viagra or other sexual enhancement supplements have no idea what they're actually taking because the product labels don't reflect the true ingredients, according to a commentary published earlier this week in the journal JAMA ...



Dr. Roach: Calcium supplements are not necessary for all women
LubbockOnline.com
Dear Dr. Roach: I have been taking 1,000-1,200 mg of calcium daily for a long time now — more than 12 years. I am 46. I don't get much, if any, dairy in my diet, but I am a good vegetable eater. Should I be concerned about calcium supplements and ...

and more »


Vitamin D supplements could combat Crohn's disease - News Track India
Newstrack India
"These findings, to our knowledge, are the first to suggest potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation on muscle strength with corresponding benefits for fatigue and quality of life in Crohn's disease. These findings, however, need to be confirmed ...

and more »


How can solo travelers avoid dreaded single supplements?
Fox News
But what about the solo traveler and those crippling single supplements? I have found just one company -- GAP Adventures -- that doesn't penalize the solo traveler with these fees (which can be substantial). Can you help us out with some research on ...



TopNews New Zealand

Sex Supplements May Contain Hidden, Harmful Drugs
Yahoo! News
Consumers should not buy sexual enhancement supplements, either online or in stores, because the products may contain undisclosed drugs that could cause serious harm, medical experts say. Although advertisements on sex supplements purport that the ...
So-called Herbal Sex Supplements in Market Increase Risk of Erectile DysfunctionTopNews New Zealand

all 5 news articles »


Sports Supplements: OK for Kids? (Part 1 of 2)
Natural Products INSIDER (blog)
In the classroom or on the athletic field, who doesn't want to give their child every opportunity to perform to their abilities? Year-round training, increased pressure to compete at a high level (and not to mention the endless hours driving to ...



'Flashdance' Blu-ray Supplements Detailed
High-Def Digest
Check out the bonus features for the 1983 dance flick getting the high-definition treatment in August. As previously reported, Warner Brothers will be releasing 'Flashdance' on Blu-ray on August 13.



Cosmopolitan (blog)

Yet Another Reason Not to Buy "Natural" Sex Supplements
Cosmopolitan (blog)
What's more, a lot of the supplements actually contain traces of prescription drugs. This, of course, is scary for a ton of reasons, including the fact that some drugs can counteract with other drugs, and that some of the prescription pills used in the ...

and more »

Google News


Advertisement



Section Site Map - Submit News - Feedback - Comments - Advertise with Us

Copyright © 2006 Luminati Inc. All rights reserved.