The Complete Nutrition Guide to Menopause by Leslie Beck

Author:Leslie Beck
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Canada

Vitamins and minerals

CALCIUM

That calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and that 99 percent of it is housed within the bones and teeth underlines the importance of dietary calcium to bone health. During the bone-building process, the osteoblast cells secrete bone mineral (consisting of calcium and phosphorus), which strengthens the bone. This mineral matures into hyroxyapatite, a compound responsible for the strength and rigidity of bones. By making it possible for the osteoblasts to provide structural integrity to bones, dietary calcium plays a critical role in preventing osteoporosis.

Think back to what happens to your bones if your diet is low in calcium. One percent of your body’s calcium circulates in your bloodstream and is vital to your heart, nervous system, and muscles. Your body keeps this circulating pool of calcium at a constant level. If your diet is lacking calcium and your blood calcium level drops, your parathyroid gland releases parathyroid hormone (PTH). This hormone then goes to work to return calcium to your blood. It makes your kidneys stop excreting calcium, and it works with vitamin D to release calcium from your bones into your blood. So when you shortchange your diet, you shortchange your bones too.

How much calcium do you need?

Here’s a look at how much calcium you and your family members need.

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