Posts Tagged ‘teeth’

The Importance of Calcium in the Diet

Among the many minerals that make up our body, calcium is undoubtedly one of the most important.

99% of our body’s calcium is found in bones and teeth, while the remaining 1% is part of the cells and blood.

Calcium serves several important metabolic functions:

  • Regulates heart rhythm
  • Involved in the transmission of nerve impulses
  • Intervene in the contraction of muscles
  • Maintains healthy bones and teeth
  • Allows proper blood clotting
  • It is essential for cell function
  • Promotes the functioning of the immune system
  • It is essential for the proper functioning of the respiratory system

It is clear that the functions of calcium in the body are many and important. But there is one factor to take into account: the body can only absorb between 10 and 20% of ingested calcium. What does this mean? That it is essential to consume foods rich in calcium daily to maintain health.

What foods are rich in calcium? The dairy foods and its derivatives, some vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, spinach and onions, fish, shellfish, crustaceans and eggs, among others.

For athletes or people who perform heavy physical work daily, daily intake of calcium is even more important. This is because calcium – as we saw earlier – is essential for bone health. Calcium-deficient people are much more prone to bone injuries and disorders such as osteoarthritis or arthritis.