The human body contains approximately 1-2 kg of calcium found in bone and teeth. A smaller portion is in fluid and cellular structures of the body. Great part of the bone is constantly updated. Daily from them and restored 700-800 milligrams of calcium.
The main function of calcium is to provide a bone formation - it is the structural element that determines its strength and density. Furthermore, mineral perform other vital organic functions - participates in the nervous excitability and muscle contraction as well as the activity of the heart muscle. When the amount of daily dietary calcium is insufficient, under strict control of the hormonal system, the body procuring items from the bones.
The main source of calcium is food. The part that goes from the intestine into the body fluids is biologically absorbed calcium used by the body. Element is absorbed differently by different products. For example, in spinach and cereal intake of calcium from the intestine is lower due to the presence in these foods oxalic acid. Assimilation of calcium is difficult in the case of diabetes or when taking certain medications. But for implementation of the process required the fat-soluble vitamins A and D.
Dairy foods contain the most calcium and high bioavailability of the element. They provide about 75% of daily calcium needs. Leading position in this respect is yogurt, which is not only delicious taste, but also with the highest amount of absorbable calcium. Daily inclusion in the diet reduces the risk of osteoporosis and is the most effective way to prevent disease. What is mostly true for people who can not digest the lactose in milk - 47% of them suffer from osteoporosis.
Today, osteoporosis is a serious health and social problem for society. It is characterized by progressive decrease in bone mass and deterioration of its microstructure - bone becomes fragile and brittle even after a minor stroke. One of the risk factors for osteoporosis is age. As people age, the loss of bone mass may reach up to 30-40% for women and 20-30% in men. Threatened and young people due to the growth of the bones. They are required to 1500 mg calcium per day, and studies have shown that dietary they receive 50-60% of this amount. Regular consumption of foods with calcium is essential for building strong bones and prevent osteoporosis.
It has been found that calcium regulates blood pressure. There is a close link between dietary calcium biologically absorbed and reduce hypertension. Undoubtedly, the maintenance of normal body weight is one of the main ways to control blood pressure.
Calcium also reduces the risk of colon cancer by binding of fatty acids and bile acids from the food, such as eliminating the irritation of the colon. Recent studies also show a beneficial effect of the element. Its high content in food reduces the formation of kidney stones. A quantity of 850 mg of calcium per day is sufficient for the effective removal of oxalates from the body and can be supplied from yoghurt with a reduced fat content. Calcium is a reliable barrier to prevent intestinal diseases. It connects a number of beneficial microorganisms in the intestinal mucosa and forms a biological diaper. From the above said it is clear that calcium is involved in many important physiological processes. A constant shortage of the element can lead to severe consequences for the skeleton and the normal functioning of the body.