What is calcium and what does it do | Role of calcium in our body | Which foods include calcium? | What is the reason behind our requirement for calcium?

 Role of calcium in our body

What is calcium and what does it do?

Calcium:

Although it also has a significant impact on blood clotting, muscular contraction, normal cardiac rhythms, and nerve function, calcium is most commonly linked to strong bones and teeth. The bones contain 99 percent of the calcium in the body, with the remaining 1 percent found in muscle, blood, and other tissues.

Your body needs calcium to make and maintain strong bones as well as to perform a number of other vital tasks. The most prevalent mineral in the body is calcium. The body stores almost all of the calcium that gives teeth and bones their structure and hardness. For muscles to contract and for nerves to transmit signals from your brain to every area of your body, your body needs calcium. Additionally, calcium aids in the release of hormones that have an impact on numerous bodily functions and helps blood vessels carry blood throughout the body. Calcium absorption is aided by vitamin D in your body.

Which foods include calcium?

Many foods contain calcium. You can eat a range of foods, such as the following, to obtain the recommended quantities of calcium:

• ·    For the majority of Americans, milk, yoghurt, and cheese are the primary food sources of calcium.
• ·         Calcium can be found in canned sardines and bone-in fish.
• ·        Some vegetables also provide calcium, including Chinese cabbage (bok choi), broccoli, and kale.
• ·         Certain kinds of tofu and ready-to-eat cereals, as well as a number of fruit juices and milk alternatives including soy and almond beverages, have additional calcium. Check the product labels to see whether any calcium has been added to these foods.
• ·         The majority of grains, including breads, pastas, and cereals without added nutrients, are low in calcium.

What is the reason behind our requirement for calcium?

BONE HEALTH: The bones and teeth contain about 99 percent of the calcium in the human body. For the growth, development, and maintenance of bone, calcium is necessary. Calcium aids in the growth of children's bones as they grow. Calcium keeps the bones healthy and slows down the normal ageing process of bone density loss, even after a person's growth ceases. Women who have already gone through menopause may lose bone density more quickly than younger or male people. Due to their increased risk of osteoporosis, a physician might advise taking calcium supplements.

MUSCLE CONTRACTION: Muscle contraction is regulated in part by calcium. The body releases calcium when a muscle is stimulated by a nerve. Calcium facilitates muscular contraction by working with the proteins in the muscle. The muscle will relax as soon as the body expels the calcium from it. An essential component of blood coagulation is calcium. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: Clotting involves multiple processes and is a complex procedure. These involve calcium among other substances. The function of calcium in muscles involves Reliable Source preserving the cardiac muscle's contraction. The smooth muscle that envelops blood vessels is relaxed by calcium. Numerous research have suggested a potential connection between low blood pressure and high calcium consumption. In addition to being vital for bone health, vitamin D facilitates the body's absorption of calcium. Learn more about the benefits of vitamin D and its necessity.