Calcium: Old News and Good News!

If you are in the middle age bracket, undoubtedly your doctor has advised you to increase your calcium intake. Specifically designed to prevent bone loss, and especially important for menopausal women, calcium is a necessary component needed in your daily diet. Are you getting enough calcium? According to statistics, the answer is a qualified no. What you need, and what your doctor will tell you to consume, is at least 1200 milligrams a day.

If you have never taken calcium, either in pill form or via specific food groups, you should be made aware of the following:

Pregnant women who are breastfeeding need higher amounts of calcium.
If you are near or are going through menopause, your bone building cells slow down; you need extra calcium to keep your bones healthy.
Along with women, men are also at risk for osteoporosis, especially after age 65.

As stated earlier, calcium comes in many forms including, but not limited to: Low-fat dairy products; leafy vegetables; juice, breads and cereals. In addition, Vitamin D allows your bones to absorb the calcium; therefore, it is important to include both in your daily diet. Here are some dairy substitutes you can use to increase your calcium and vitamin D intake: Non-fat yogurt; Non-fat milk; Ricotta cheese; Evaporated skim milk or Skim milk. By using these low-fat dairy products in your breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, you will enhance your calcium intake while increasing the nutritional value of the meals.

In order to keep your bones from becoming brittle; it is absolutely necessary to add calcium to your diet. Arthritis in general and osteoporosis, in particular, afflict over 80% of women today. It is important, then, to decrease the odds of these diseases affecting you by increasing the amount of calcium in your diet.

Did you also know that extra calcium can help you lose weight as well? Here are some facts about calcium and weight loss you may be interested to learn. According to a recent study, an increase in dairy products, specifically calcium, has shown to lower body weight by the conversion of energy to heat, rather than to body fat. What exactly does that mean? By reducing dairy products, a signal is sent to the body telling it to add more fat. Imagine that!

Furthermore, the study has determined that when your body is deprived of calcium, it conserves it, thus increasing higher levels of calcitrol - a hormone that triggers the production of fat cells. In addition, increasing the use of non-fat dairy products will increase fat loss by as much as 10%. Sounds incredible, doesn't it? Consider the possibilities!

An enriched diet filled with protein, low-fat dairy, leafy vegetables and exercise is all that you need to rid yourself of those pounds. Can extra calcium help you lose weight? The answer is a qualified maybe. What is certain, however, is that additional calcium can increase your health, and if you happen to lose weight in the bargain; it's just icing on the cake!