Benefits Of Calcium

Calcium is important throughout life. These are some of it's benefits:

BONES AND TEETH - Calcium is essential in the development and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth. Bone is made up of cells and fiber embedded in a mineral matrix, which is mostly crystals of calcium phosphate. One form of bone calcium is bound tightly within the bone and the other is easily removed to maintain blood levels. Calcium is removed from the tightly bound part of the bone only when the more mobile stores are exhausted and dietary intake is inadequate. Bones are constantly being replaced with 20% of an adult’s bone calcium reabsorbed and replaced every year.
NERVE AND MUSCLE CONTRACTION - Calcium is essential for muscle contraction, including that of the heart muscle and for nerve impulse conduction. Calcium also aids in the release of neurotransmitters which carry messages between nerve cells.
BLOOD PRESSURE - Calcium interacts with sodium, potassium and magnesium to help regulate blood pressure. It has been found that people whose diets are low in calcium have a higher incidence of high blood pressure. The effects of a mother’s high calcium diet during pregnancy may also be passed on to her children who will be less likely to suffer from high blood pressure.
BLOOD - Calcium in the blood is essential for clotting by activating vitamin K (prothrombin) which is the first stage in wound healing.It is also involved in the control of blood cholesterol levels. Increased calcium supports normal blood cholesterol levels and overall heart health.
IMMUNE FUNCTION - Calcium in milk has been shown to enhance resistance to salmonella in rats.
METABOLISM - Calcium is essential for the production and activity of many enzymes and hormones that are involved in digestion, energy and fat metabolism and the production of saliva.
CELL MEMBRANES - Calcium is involved in the transport of nutrients and other substances across cell membranes and aids in the maintenance of connective tissue which holds cells together.