Sources of Calcium

Though much has been said about the benefits of calcium found mainly in dairy products, the truth is that a large part of the world doesn’t depend on dairy products for its calcium intake but on plants. Few people know that calcium is present in all foods in varying quantities. For instance, dark green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, collard greens, kale, bok choy and dandelion greens and okra and sweet potatoes are as rich in calcium as fruit including oranges, pears, raisins, prunes, apricots, dates and dried figs. In fact, just one cup of broccoli is equal in calcium content to a quarter of the recommendations of the U.S.RDA.

Rich deposits of calcium are also found in a variety of nuts and seeds such as chestnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, filberts, and sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. Fish and seafood such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, flounder, shrimp, clams and oysters are high repositories of calcium. They include. Besides, calcium is also found in amaranth, quinoa, oats and barley; and in peas, beans, soy products, seaweeds, sprouts and blackstrap molasses. Alfalfa, cayenne, chamomile, kelp and lemongrass are some herbs rich in calcium.

Foods such as turnip greens, spinach, almonds, cashews, rhubarb, and beet, though high in calcium, are also high in oxalic acid, which hinders calcium absorption. When such substances come together in the intestines, the resulting insoluble salts cannot be digested. Adding a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to the cooking helps ease the problem.

If you can’t get a continuously good supply of calcium-rich foods, take a calcium supplement with your meals, in powdered form. Give it to your family too but first check the table below for dosages:

Infants: 600 mg/day

Children (up to age 10): 800-1200 mg/day

Adults (up to age 35): 1200 mg/day

Calcium provides detailed information on Calcium, Calcium Supplements, Calcium Deficiency, Calcium Sources and more. Calcium is affiliated with Magnesium Chloride.

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Greatest Advantage of Coral Calcium

Calcium is one of the minerals that are good for the bones and are said to be able to treat some diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, lupus and cancer. However there are no research studies that have proven that coral calcium is capable of treating diseases better than other carbonated calcium pills which are not expensive.

Coral calcium became widely popular in the internet and health stores lately; however coral calcium pills are the most high priced in the history of pills.

Manufacturers claim that coral calcium is beneficial for treating almost two hundred kinds of diseases and also good for relieving pain. Advertisements and some websites are announcing that coral calcium cures cancer. They site a situation in Okinawa Japan where people who lives there are having a longer life span because the water that they are drinking has high level contents of coral calcium. Coral calcium is making the water into alkaline and it balances the acidity of the body in an individual. So coral calcium are good for acidic persons but be aware that you may experience some difficulties upon swallowing the pills if your acidity body contents are similar as the acidity in the labels imply.

Coral calcium is made out of corals and other sea creature’s shells having higher contents of calcium carbonate and other minerals including magnesium.

Coral calcium is a dietary supplement so it is unregulated. People should learn that such products could not be safe even if its manufacturers are claiming its benefits. As history tells about supplements, there are basically some that has calcium contents that have found out to be unsafe thus some of them was tested to have higher lead contents which are health hazards.

Coral calcium alone cannot fight diseases. It must be combined with drinking mineral or spring water rich in oxygen and higher pH factor and other minerals or elements providing the natural ability of the body to fight back diseases.

Coral calcium is good for increasing the level of oxygen in the body helping it to get rid of toxicity build up. If you are a keen observer, you can determine the feeling of being sluggish after eating junk food or a heavy meal. It is because the oxygen are diverted away from the body’s main metabolic functions making it hard to digest high calories.

Coral calcium offered the greatest advantage of balancing the pH alkaline level in the body in helping the system of the body fight or prevent diseases from attacking.

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Getting the Most Out of Your Calcium

Most of us know calcium is essential for building and maintaining strong bones. But it is also key in supporting healthy blood pressure, easing the discomfort of PMS by 50%, reducing the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles, helps prevent osteoporosis (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition), helps reduce weight in middle aged women (American Dietetic Association), supports healthy pregnancy and lactation, promotes healthy growth in adolescents, plays a critical role in the contraction of skeletal and heart muscles, enhances the effectiveness of electrical impulses passing through neurons , helps maintain proper blood vessel tone, promotes normal blood clotting, contributes to normal osmotic balance in our bodies, promotes colon health, promotes normal regulation of hormones & enzyme production and plays a role in hormone secretion.

Many calcium supplements exist in the marketplace, but only isotonic capable calcium translates into more of the active ingredients available to the body and lower cost when compared to calcium supplements in pill form. Don't be misled by ingredient amounts. What really counts is the amount of active ingredients that your body can ultimately use.

Calcium in tablet form is difficult for your body to absorb. This may be because the tablet is not blended with Vitamin D and magnesium which are necessary to aid in the absorption and use of calcium. In addition these tablets may use DCP, which is a binding agent used to hold the tablet together. DCP does not break down in the body. Even if they have no binders, the body must still break down a hard-pressed tablet into a usable form. If the tablet cannot be broken down sufficiently in the stomach, then the calcium will not be absorbed.

Absorption is also affected by the digestive system. All substances, except isotonic solutions, that are introduced to the stomach go through a degradation process before they can be passed to the small intestine to allow absorption. During this process substances lose some nutritional value.

All fluids in the human body have a certain concentration, which is called the osmotic pressure. An isotonic solution is a solution that is the same pressure as your body fluids. When taken on an empty stomach, an isotonic substance will be absorbed into the bloodstream rapidly because your stomach will allow it to pass to the small intestine without going through the digestive process. With isotonic fluids, very little nutritional value is lost making the absorption of nutrients highly efficient.

Ordinary calcium tablets require stomach acid to dissolve its compounds, but isotonic calcium has no need of stomach acid to be utilized. It delivers an efficient calcium solution that is more readily absorbed by the intestine. Do not confuse all liquid supplements as isotonic capable. They are not. While liquids may have a better rate of absorption when compared to pills, they are not necessarily in an isotonic state.

It is important to get the most out of calcium that an optimal blend of calcium, vitamin D3, magnesium, vitamin C and boron are provided in an efficient isotonic solution. The best form of calcium is calcium carbonate which is utilized by the body more efficiently, due to the fact that it increases the absorbability. Additionally, calcium is more readily absorbed by the body when combined with magnesium, manganese, vitamin D3, vitamin C, vitamin B2, boron and potassium.

We can only absorb 300 to 400 mg of calcium at a time, so it important to take multiple doses per day to reach the recommended amounts. According to the National Academy of Sciences, most adults require 1000 to 1200 mg per day. While we get some from the food we eat, most likely we are not consuming enough calcium in our foods.

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Calcium Supplementation and Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, one of the most terrible long-term consequences of estrogen deficiency, is common among post menopausal women, but it is not inevitable. A healthy diet, especially the consumption of adequate amounts of calcium and other minerals, has a significant part to play in both preventing and in slowing the progression of this disease. Generally, for healthy bones, women require 800 to 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily. During menopause, calcium needs increase to 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams daily.

Examples of food sources of calcium include dairy products, salmon, tuna, sardines, green leafy vegetables and tofu. You must check from time to time to see if your daily diet provides you with an adequate amount of calcium. If your diet falls short of this, or if you are not sure, take a good-quality calcium tablet to give you 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily.

One of the best sources of calcium to combat post menopausal osteoporosis is milk. A cup of milk daily will give a good start to meeting your calcium requirements. When it comes to cow's milk, calcium-enriched milk is recommended, which is low in fat and much higher in calcium than skim milk. If you are on a dairy-free diet, you may choose calcium-enriched soy milk instead. Some soy milks are calcium-enriched; while others are low in calcium, so it is bets to read labels to be sure the product you purchase is a good source of calcium.

There are a number of different supplemental sources of calcium. Bone meal, which comes from the ground bones of young animals, contains calcium from microcrystalline hydroxyapatite. Bone meal calcium is well absorbed, but it is possible for it to be contaminated with heavy metals such as lead. Calcium carbonate, which contains 40 percent elemental calcium, is the most concentrated and inexpensive form, but its absorption varies. Calcium lactate, calcium citrate and calcium gluconate are less concentrated forms of calcium, containing only about 15 percent elemental calcium but are better absorbed than carbonate forms.

Some calcium supplements contain a mixture of different types of calcium to improve absorption. Many good calcium supplements also contain vitamin D, which enhances the absorption of calcium from the intestines. Calcium is best absorbed when taken on an empty stomach. It should not be taken, however, with high fiber-foods such as cereals, grains and legumes, as this will reduce its absorption. It can be taken with dairy products, fruits, vegetables and meats.

In addition to making sure you obtain enough calcium in your diet, avoid making dietary mistakes that can steal minerals from your bones. Keep your consumption of protein from animal sources to no more than 50 grams daily. This is the equivalent of the amount of protein found in six-ounces serving of meat or fish plus one eight-ounce glass of milk.

Our bones contain magnesium and the trace minerals zinc, boron, silica and manganese in addition to calcium and studies suggest that adequate amounts of all these different minerals are more effective than calcium alone in preventing bone loss during menopause. If you are on menopause and if your diet is not always perfect, it is bets you take a trace mineral tablet that contain all of these minerals.

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(Marine Coral Calcium) Alternative Calcium Supplement

Many people have no idea about marine coral calcium, what are its health benefits. Or maybe it is their first time to encounter this term. However, what really is marine coral calcium?

Simply defined, it is considered as one of the best calcium supplements that were ever discovered. It is proven much better and finer than the other types of calcium supplements. The intensity of risks for taking such is also limited.

There are two different types of marine coral calcium with respect from where they originated. One type is called the fossilized calcium, which is commonly found washed up on seashore. The second type is called marine bed coral calcium that is obviously useful. It is derived from the bed area of the sea. Since it is found on the seabed, this is generally composed of corals. Moreover, it is potent and more effective than the fossilized calcium.

The two types of marine coral calcium are both being processed naturally and the normal motion of the waves of the sea is responsible for doing this. The process helps the corals to retain its organic elements and its minerals. This is the reason why the use of seabed corals calcium is more efficient than fossilized calcium.

One of the most significant elements on marine coral calcium is Magnesium. This element plays an important role for the marine coral calcium to do its job on our system. With proper ratio of coral calcium and the amount of magnesium, it will surely create an immense benefit on our health. Taking marine coral calcium as supplement everyday, as experts say would help us prevent degenerative diseases such as hypertensions, heart attacks and diabetes.

Adult people are advised to take marine coral calcium because this serves as a preventive ingredient against heart failures. It performs functions for neutralizing the processes within the system of a person.

Marine coral calcium can be considered as the best alternative calcium supplement. It has large extracts of minerals and organic elements, which comes from a very natural process and established to ward off common diseases that are the major cause of deaths nowadays.

So, why try to risk your lives on different diseases due to deficiency in calcium. Marine coral calcium is the best choice. Marine coral calcium is the key to your good health and a lifetime diet. Now that you know its significance, you can incorporate it in your diet.

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Bone Density - The Only Way to Detect Osteoporosis Precisely

Osteoporosis is one disease which can take over your entire life without really killing you. The fact that a person has osteoporosis means that he or she will have to make many changes in life, including lifestyle changes, in order to stop the progress of the disease. However, a person does not know when he or she is going to develop osteoporosis as it can occur anytime without the person knowing. A diagnosis is only made after the person starts sustaining fractures from minor or small injuries.

Although there are some symptoms like gradual but steady reduction in height, sever back ache and evident changes in the posture, the condition only becomes apparent after you start breaking your bones. However, there is a way to test whether you are getting osteoporosis and by undergoing this examination, you can start taking preventive or curative measures. This medical test is known as bone density test.

In bone density testing, a device is fitted to your body and this device then reads the bone mineral density. Once the bone mineral density is known, a doctor can tell you what your chances are of breaking bones.

The device that is now used to check bone density is known as Bone Densitometer. This device is more reliable than an ordinary X-ray where you have to first lose 30 percent of your bone density before osteoporosis is detected. In fact, bone densitometry can also give a doctor the future likelihood of a patient developing osteoporosis. Bone densitometry is the most widely used method in the world for detecting osteoporosis and by this method you can even reverse the loss of bone density as it can be detected early on and you have sufficient time to start supplements or make the necessary changes in your lifestyle.

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Your Body and osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the weakening of the body's bones due to a number of things both physical and external in nature. Osteoporosis is estimated to affect over 30 million people in the USA and Canada. A staggering 2 million people over the age of 45 experience bone fractures due to osteoporosis, Osteoporosis is (excess bone mass reduction) mainly in the vertebral spinal column, wrist and hips.

Osteoporosis affects women more than men because women have less bone mass then men do, and begin to lose bone mass far earlier. Up to age 35 men and women have equal bone stability. For woman the most rapid rate of bone loss occurs in the first five years after menopause. Beginning around age 45 when body hormone supplies undergo a dramatic change virtually all women lose 5% to 10% of bone mass during this period. The rate of bone loss then drops to about 1% per year. The good news for men is men don't experience bone loss until after the age of 70, but once they do contract osteoporosis the condition can be severe.

Causes of osteoporosis are caused by decreased levels of estrogens and progesterone, Hormones that play important roles in bone building. The disease of osteoporosis can also result from poor diet and insufficient exercise. The North American of processed foods, carbonated soft drinks, caffeine, high protein sugars and salt consumption can promote osteoporosis. Process foods lead directly to calcium loss because these foods are nutrient deficient, this in turn stimulates a need for protein which eaten in high amounts, can cause the body to lose calcium. The relationship between protein and calcium loss has been known to researchers since 1920. One problem with protein is the body cannot store protein, protein breaks down and one of the by products of protein is ammonia and acids which need to be buffered by calcium. Ammonia prevents calcium from being reabsorbed by the Kidneys. The acids which need to be buffered by calcium, also depletes bones of this vital mineral. Another source of calcium loss is a high sodium diet. Sugar has been linked to loss of calcium as well and can cause metabolic problems that eventually lead to mineral imbalances. Soft drinks and caffeine also puts bones at risk, consuming large amounts of soft drinks and caffeine increases calcium excretion in the urine, but also allows more calcium to be secreted into the gastrointestinal tract. Drinking 3 or more cups of coffee a day increase the risk of osteoporosis by 82%.

Environmental factors of our polluted world is another contributor to the wide spread incidence osteoporosis. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, tin, and aluminum which are used in most products used daily are all culprit. Acid rain is also a culprit in osteoporosis as it leaches heavy metals out of bedrock into our drinking water. Acid rain makes our drinking water more acidic which in turn challenges our bodies buffering capacity drawing calcium out of bones to provide alkalinity for balance. All this can lead to osteoporosis. There are many other risk factors such as insufficient calcium absorption.

The problem with most Calcium pills is that they are large and hard to swallow and are very hard to absorb into the body. Large calcium pills are pressed into their shape by 30000lbs presses making it very hard for your body to absorb all of the calcium that your body needs. For calcium to be absorbed you also need vitamin D and adequate hydrochloric acid (HCI) in the stomach.
A broad spectrum of antibiotics used to treat a variety of diseases can often deplete normal intestinal flora that supplies the body with vitamin K which is needed in building of bones.
Everybody needs s calcium in their diet daily but most people hate to take those large pills. My company Leading Edge Coaching is associated with a health and wellness company that has a product that will change the way we take our calcium. This new product is called CAL (short for calcium) a product that taste great (Chocolate Orange) and you can take it daily. It is not a pill, juice, or powder; instead it is in a revolutionary gel pack. In this gel form a 93% absorption rate into the body is possible with the gel pack, a much better absorption rate then the pill, juices, or powders that only have a 30% absorption rate. This revolutionary calcium product is an essential mineral for many regular body activities including blood vessel contraction and expansion, the secretions of hormones and enzymes. The routing of all messages throughout the nervous system and the maintence of healthy bones in the body. Extensive studies have shown that 75% of people do not get the required daily intake of calcium, meaning that their bodies could take more calcium from their bones then they are depositing into their bodies.

Until now most people seeking to add calcium to their wellness plan had to swallow large size horse-pills that just taste plain bad and are hard to swallow. Our product of calcium in a gel form taste like a chocolate orange flavoured candy treat that you get at Christmas, which is so much better tasting then any pill, juice or powder. I have even had people tell me that it taste like a tootsies roll. This new nutritional gel supplement is a must for anybody who needs to take a calcium product or just wants to keep their daily intake of calcium in their diets.

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Treatment For Osteoporosis and Menopause

It has been seen that osteoporosis is quite common in menopausal and postmenopausal women. Most women who enter menopause may not even realize that their bone density is substantially reduced until they suffer from a fracture which will necessitate a trip to the doctor.

There are many treatment options available for menopausal women who suffer from osteoporosis. Their doctors can put them on medications like Risedronate, Alendronate or Calcitonin. Or, they can opt for a diet that is rich in calcium and Vitamin D. No matter what treatment regimen you choose to help with osteoporosis, make sure you combine it with exercise. In addition, if you smoke, you should stop immediately as smoking is one of the factors for causing osteoporosis. The other treatments offered to menopausal women are estrogen therapy, Biphosphonate, weight bearing exercises and Teriparatide in the form of injections.

There are certain medical conditions that can cause osteoporosis. Therefore, doctors may perform a series to tests to rule out these underlying medical conditions. In case, anything is found, it will be treated and you will notice an immediate improvement in your osteoporosis.

Along with the treatment offered for osteoporosis, doctors also recommend that you bring about changes to your lifestyle. This includes stopping alcohol and cigarettes completely, doing regular exercise. You should also seek different medications incase the medications you are on are known triggers of osteoporosis. For instance, long and sustained use of steroids can cause osteoporosis.

Remember, menopause does not necessarily result into osteoporosis. There are certain risk factors involved. If you can do away with them, you can lead a normal and healthy life like anyone else.

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Osteoporosis, What is the Important Factors couse it?

There are many factors that can cause osteoporosis and some of the most common ones are listed below. This information will allow you to assess your chances of developing osteoporosis and where ever possible you can try and reduce the risk factors.

Important Factors that Cause Osteoporosis:

• Age is one the biggest risk factors. The chances of getting osteoporosis increases with age. Women are prone to osteoporosis after the age of 45 while for men it is around 65 years and above.
• Women are more likely to get osteoporosis compared to men as they have thinner and lighter bones compared to men.
• Although osteoporosis can affect any race, it has been seen that it is more prevalent in Caucasian women.
• If there is a history of osteoporosis in your family, the chances of getting the disease are high.
• Smoking increases the chances of developing osteoporosis.
• Too much alcohol causes bone density to reduce as the loss of bone mass is greater than bone formation. However, drinking alcohol in moderation can help to increase bone density according to latest studies carried out.
• Drinking soft drinks in high amounts can cause osteoporosis as these drinks have high contents of phosphoric acid which hinders the absorption of calcium.
• Deficiency in calcium and vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis.
• Taking steroids for a long period of time can cause osteoporosis. In fact, this is the single major factor of osteoporosis in men.
• Not doing regular exercise can cause the bones to weaken and this can ultimately lead to osteoporosis.
• Drinking copious amount of caffeine increases the chance of developing osteoporosis. Therefore, it is advisable to cut down on drinks like tea, coffee and coke.
• Crash dieting leads to malnutrition and creates a deficiency of important nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. This can increase the chances of getting osteoporosis.

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Natural Treatments for Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis affects both men and women. It is a degenerative disease where the bone density starts reducing over a period of time. There are many treatment options available that can help with the side effects of the disease but many people prefer to try natural osteoporosis treatments as they prefer them to taking drugs and medications.

Natural Osteoporosis Treatments:

One of the best natural treatments available for osteoporosis is changing your diet. If you are suffering from this degenerative disease, make sure you consume foods rich in calcium to supplement the loss that is taking place. Try to maintain a diet consisting of vegetables and fruits. In addition, eat minimum quantities of saturated fats and trans fats. This is will help you treat the condition and if you start early enough, you will prevent it from occurring.

Another natural method to prevent and treat osteoporosis is to exercise regularly. This will keep your bones healthy and strong. Make sure you combine exercising with a healthy diet and you can prevent osteoporosis from taking over your life.

You can also fight osteoporosis by taking supplements of calcium and Vitamin D. Both these supplements are known to prevent loss of bone density. You can also take multi-vitamins to combat osteoporosis, if you wish. However, it is advisable to include foods that are rich in calcium and Vitamin D in your diet so that you do not have to take supplements. But, if you are still interested in taking supplements, take only those that come from a reliable source.

It is not always necessary to treat osteoporosis with medications and drugs. There are natural treatment options available that can help you improve the quality of your life if you are suffering from osteoporosis.

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Treat Osteoporosis? How Doctors do?

Fosamax is a bisphosphonate drug used for osteoporosis and several other bone diseases. It is marketed alone as well as in combination with vitamin D under the name Fosavance.

Side-effects GI tract: most prominent are harmless side effects such as mild nausea, dyspepsia, abdominal cramps, flatulence, diarrhea, or obstipation. A severe side effect is an ulceration of the esophagus caused by alendronate, which may require hospitalization and intensive treatment. Gastric and duodenal ulceration.

General: infrequent cases of skin rash, rarely manifesting as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, eye problems (uveitis, scleritis) and generalized muscle, joint, and bone pain (rarely severe) have been seen. In laboratory tests decreased calcium and phosphate values may be obtained but reflect action of the drug and are harmless.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw, a recognised side-effect of bisphosphonates.

Dosage Prophylaxis of osteoporosis in women: 5-10mg daily or 35-70mg weekly.

Therapy of osteoporosis in women and men : 10mg daily or 70mg weekly.

Osteoporosis under corticosteroids: 5mg daily or 35mg weekly in men and premenopausal women or those receiving concomitant HRT. In postmenopausal women not receiving HRT the recommended dose is 10mg daily or 70mg weekly.

Paget's Disease: 40mg daily for 6 months.

The drug is to be taken only upon rising for the day with plenty of water. Stand, walk or sit 30 minutes afterwards to avoid esophageal damage. At least 30 minutes should be waited before meals or other beverages than water are taken in.

Interactions Milk, diet and drugs containing high amounts of calcium, magnesium or aluminium (antacids): the resorption of alendronate is decreased. At least half an hour should pass after intake of alendronate before taking the supplement or drug.

Highly active vitamin D analogues or fluorides: no data is available. Concomitant treatment should be avoided.

The additional beneficial effect of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) with estrogens/progestins or raloxifene in postmenopausal women remains to be elucidated, but no interactions have been seen. The combination is therefore possible.

Intravenous ranitidine increases the oral bioavailability of alendronate. No clinical consequences are known.

The combination of NSAIDS and alendroate increases the risk of gastric ulcers. Both these drugs have the potential to irritate the upper gastro-intestinal mucosa.

Does Merck have a patent on this drug?

Yes, but the patent is set to expire in 2008 and Merck has lost a series of appeals to block a generic version of the drug from being certified by the US FDA.

Disclaimer: The information presented here should not be interpreted as or substituted for medical advice. Please talk to your doctor to learn more about Fosamax.

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