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Natural Calcium for Healthy Bones

The most essential ingredient for healthy bones is calcium.

Calcium intake is important during a child’s growing years to build strong teeth and bones. It becomes less important during the middle years when it is needed to keep bones strong. And then, it becomes much more important as you reach the menopausal and post-menopausal years when bone mass tends to decrease, leaving many woman vulnerable to osteoporosis.

Did you know that you store 99% of your body’s calcium in your teeth and bones and the other 1% is in your blood and your body’s soft tissue? When you neglect eating the right amount of calcium, your body is forced to take the calcium it needs from the built up stores in your teeth and bones. If your body does this over long periods of time, you will most likely develop osteoporosis, a serious disease which causes your bones to become brittle, making them break easier.

Making sure you consume the proper daily calcium requirement helps to promote bone health and prevent osteoporosis. The recommended amount of daily calcium for women over the age of 50 is 1000-1200 mg. However, it is advised that you limit your daily intake to 2500 mg or less because calcium is not easily absorbed and Vitamin D intake is also essential for the calcium you ingest to be useful.

Food sources are better alternatives than supplements for ingesting the proper amounts of calcium that your body needs to ward off osteoporosis. Some of the best natural food sources for calcium include whole grain cereals, fish (such as salmon), green vegetables (such as broccoli), beans and nuts.

Your body prefers smaller amounts of calcium at a time, so it is best to space your intake throughout the day to avoid consuming more than 500-600 mg of calcium at any one meal. Please keep on mind that certain foods hinder your body’s ability to hold on to the calcium you have ingested. These include excess salt and caffeine that cause calcium to be lost through urination. If you add milk to your coffee and reduce or eliminate your salt intake, you can help prevent this.

Keep in mind too that regular chiropractic adjustments are important as a means to keep your body functioning well, no matter what age you are! If you have any bone mass concerns or questions, be sure to ask us about them at your next visit!