Most abundant element in the body - facts about calcium

You may hear calcium often stated in TV commercials of dairy products and how it helps strengthen our bones and teeth. But what are the facts about calcium do you know about?

In the first century, the Romans prepared calcium and called it "calsis" but it was only in 1808 that this mineral was discovered by Sir Humphry Davy of England. Lime is the major source of this mineral, hence, the Latin word "calsis" meaning lime. Classified as an "alkaline earth metal", it is found in the Earth's crust and accounts to 3.5% of the total minerals. Aside from lime, other calcium sources are chalk, limestone, and marble. Calcium as an organic mineral reacts with water and oxygen. One kilogram of 99.8% pure calcium granules costs €126.90. Calcium exists only in two compounds, lime (CaO) and gypsum (CaSO4), which are highly in demand in many industries.

More facts about calcium

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body but 99% of our body's calcium requirement is stored in the bones. So where does the 1% go? It is in the blood for the proper functioning of the nervous system, aids in muscle contraction, and blood coagulation. The facts about calcium are that it is harmful when levels go above and below normal ergo do not exceed your calcium intake to 2000mg a day. Doctors require a daily calcium intake of 1000mg for adults and 1200-1500mg for women with low estrogen.

Here are more facts about calcium, there are two kinds of calcium are absorbable by the body: calcium citrate and calcium carbonate. The former is good for people with intestinal disease; the latter is more widely used because it is less expensive but should be taken with food for it to be absorbed well. On the other hand, take your calcium sources twice a day because intestines can only absorb 600mg of calcium at once. The body absorbs only a limited quantity of calcium in the absence of vitamin D. Depending on the amount of sunshine exposure, an adult person needs 400 to 1000 international units of vitamin D each day in order to effectively get the recommended daily allowance of calcium.

Other facts about calcium are you can derive it from various sources but most abundant in dairy products, deep green vegetables, eggs, and red meat. When the calcium level in the blood goes too low it's called hypocalcaemia. When it goes too high, hypercalcaemia occurs, which is most often a result of cancer spread to the bones.

Calcium Absorption

Coffee, tea, or milk? The numerous coffee concoctions available in various coffee shops will likely win more fans than milk and tea combined. Forget the fact that coffee makes you edgy. Or that it stains the teeth. Unfortunately, while a cup of coffee may perk up our day, it might not do as much good to our health.

Regardless of our respective health conditions, we all need our share of calcium. Regrettably, even if we hoard on calcium-rich foods, it doesn’t assure us that our bodies will be able to carry out the necessary calcium absorption. And to make matters worse, majority of us do not even get to squeeze in enough calcium into our diets.

Another fact gathered about calcium absorption is that most humans only absorb around 30% of their calcium intake. This is a sad thing and an often misunderstood one. People feed themselves with all known calcium sources in the hope that their bodies adhere to the requirement.

This doesn’t mean that you can stop trying either. But dairies like milk and cheese may not be the only solution to your calcium problem. Science has found a way for people to meet their respective calcium needs through the use of calcium supplements. Aside from containing calcium, these also participate more in the calcium absorption by the body. It is safe then to conclude that calcium supplements are more efficiently absorbed by the body than the calcium that comes from the various dietary sources.

But be wary of some of the calcium supplements available in the market today. The fact that these can be acquired without a doctor’s prescription doesn’t necessarily mean all of these are safe. In fact, some of these contain lead that is harmful to one’s health. Furthermore, some calcium supplements are still going through chemical absorption issues. There are certain kinds that are not as easily absorbed by the body as the dietary sources are. Hence, if you want to get the best calcium absorption from the supplements, it is best to seek the advice of a doctor regarding which kind will work well for you.

There are some things that can help increase calcium absorption in the body. Fact is stomach acids are needed by the body for the break down of foods. That is why it is advisable to take in supplements when you’re almost done with a meal, not after it. Also, calcium absorption is not as effective if your body lacks its supply of Vitamin D.

Taking in supplements every single day won’t really make that much difference if you don’t get your daily dose of sunlight.