What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of strong, healthy bones?

You probably answered ‘calcium’. As the most abundant mineral in the body, calcium is essential to a variety of crucial functions, including nerve health, bone health, hormones, circulation, and muscle health.

With age, the body becomes less efficient at absorbing calcium. It is crucial to get enough calcium to support strong bones, healthy teeth, a strong cardiovascular system, and overall health.

Here, we’ll cover everything you need to know about calcium, including the health benefits of calcium for women, recommended daily calcium intake, high-calcium foods, and more.

 

What Is Calcium?

Calcium is a mineral necessary for a variety of normal body functions, including hormonal secretion, nerve transmission, circulation, blood clotting, muscle function, and strong bones and teeth. About 99% of the body’s calcium is stored in the bones and teeth.

 

Health Benefits of Calcium

Calcium plays many important roles in the body, including:

• Supports cardiovascular health
• May support weight control
• Helps form healthy bones and teeth
• Helps maintain body strength
• Supports healthy muscle function
• Assists with nerve messaging between the body and the brain
• Helps maintain healthy blood flow
• Helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis
• Releases key hormones and enzymes that support a variety of body functions

Children require adequate calcium to develop strong bones. Adults need enough calcium to make sure their bones stay strong as they age.

The body cannot produce calcium, so it is important to make sure you get enough calcium through your diet. Without enough calcium, the body begins pulling calcium out of bones. This causes bones to become brittle and more prone to fractures, a condition is known as osteoporosis.

 

Importance of Calcium for Overall Women’s Health

Women must get enough calcium. As women approach menopause, estrogen levels begin declining, causing bones to become more fragile and thin at a faster rate. An increased calcium intake is necessary to reduce the risk of osteoporosis before, during, and after menopause.

 

Foods That Are High in Calcium

The body cannot produce calcium, so it relies on food to get the calcium it needs. Eating a balanced diet featuring a variety of whole foods is the best way to make sure you get enough calcium.

Foods that are high in calcium include:

• White beans
• Figs, fresh or dried
• Tofu (made with calcium sulfate)
• Soybeans
• Chia seeds
• Fortified orange juice
• Dark green, leafy vegetables such as kale or spinach
• Broccoli, especially when eaten raw
• Canned salmon or sardines, with bones
• Fortified cereal, bread, or pasta
• Dairy products such as milk, powdered milk, yogurt, cheese, or kefir

 

Calcium and Vitamin D

The body requires vitamin D to be able to absorb calcium. This means your body will struggle to absorb calcium if your vitamin D levels are low.

If you want to make sure you are getting enough calcium, consider adding these vitamin D-rich foods to your diet:

• Certain mushrooms
• Eggs
• Salmon
• Fortified milk

Your skin also produces vitamin D when exposed to sunshine.

 

The Best Calcium Supplements

Calcium is best absorbed when you have adequate vitamin D levels and a healthy diet. However, even with a balanced, healthy diet, some individuals still fall short of their calcium needs.

Individuals who may not be getting enough calcium include:

• People who are lactose intolerant
• Individuals who follow a vegan diet
• People on long-term corticosteroid treatment
• Individuals who consume too much protein or sodium (this can cause the body to excrete calcium)
• People who have certain digestive issues that decrease calcium absorption

With any nutrient, vitamins, or minerals, it is crucial to only take the proper amount. Always talk with your doctor or healthcare provider about whether or not a calcium supplement is a good choice for you. Calcium supplements may interact with certain medications, making it imperative to mention any supplements to your doctor. Your healthcare provider can also advise you on how much calcium you should be taking.

If your doctor suggests a calcium supplement for you, you may be wondering, “What is the best calcium supplement?”.

The scientists at Isagenix set out to create the best calcium supplements to help support strong bones and teeth, fill in nutritional gaps, and provide targeting anti-aging support. These gender-specific supplements were created with special considerations for the unique nutritional needs of women.

• Isagenix Complete Essentials IsaGenesis for Women features calcium, along with Omega 3s, minerals, antioxidants, bioactive herbs, and vitamins. The convenient formula is created specifically with the daily nutritional needs of a woman’s body in mind.
• Isagenix Essentials for Women is a gender-specific formula designed to provide the calcium women need for strong nails, bones, hair, and skin. Packed with potent antioxidants, 5 forms of calcium, and Omega 3 fatty acids, the formula also helps fight free radicals and provides mood, brain, and cardiovascular system support.

Daily Calcium Dose Recommendations

The amount of calcium an individual needs for healthy teeth and bones varies by age.

For instance, the body needs more calcium during childhood and adolescence to support the rapidly growing skeleton. Pregnant and breastfeeding women also have higher calcium needs. Calcium needs also increase for older men and postmenopausal women.

So how do you know if you are getting the recommended amount of calcium?

Here are the daily calcium recommendations as stated by The National Institutes of Health (NIH):

• Adults 19-50 years: 1,000 mg
• Adult men 51-70 years: 1,000 mg
• Adult women 51-70 years: 1,200 mg
• Adults 71 years and older: 1,200 mg
• Pregnant and breastfeeding teens: 1,300 mg
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women: 1,000 mg

 

Final Thoughts

Calcium is a key mineral for overall health. A healthy, nutrient-rich diet is the best way to make sure you are getting enough calcium. However, your doctor may suggest a calcium supplement to ensure you are meeting the daily recommended calcium requirements.

If you have questions about calcium supplements from Isagenix or would like personalized product advice, please contact us. Our caring, experienced team would be happy to chat with you about the best products and supplements for your health and wellness goals.