Calcium
What Calcium is Good For
Think you know all there is to know about calcium? Think again! This bone-building vitamin does so much more.
How Calcium Helps the Bones
Calcium plays an essential part in the strength of your teeth and bones. Your bones are constantly going through a process of breaking down and rebuilding, and an adequate supply of calcium is required to maintain this. Not enough calcium in the body can cause osteoporosis, or brittle bone disease, as it is also known. There are many studies to prove that calcium supplementation can help prevent the breakdown of your bones (1).
How Calcium Helps the Muscles
Calcium is vital in helping you contract your muscles, working in tandem with magnesium, which is involved in the relaxation of your muscles (2). Both minerals stimulate the actin and myosin proteins needed for this process. Remember that next time you’re pumping iron!
How Calcium Keeps You Healthy
Calcium is used in the body in other ways too. It helps to regulate hormones and is even involved in the opening and closing of blood vessels. When there is not enough calcium in the body to carry out these roles, it is taken from the bones, which can damage them. So, keeping your calcium levels up is important.
Where Calcium is Found
Lots of people think that calcium can only be found in dairy products, but people following a plant-based lifestyle can get plenty of calcium in their diet too. Calcium is found in soybeans, dark, leafy greens, figs, and tortillas. If you eat meat but avoid dairy, there is calcium in salmon too. If you can’t get enough calcium into your diet, you might want to consider supplements.