Did you know that 99 percent of the calcium in the human body is found in the bones and teeth? The remaining one percent is found in the soft tissues and the blood in the body. It is the most important mineral in the body because, without calcium, human beings (or any other living thing) would have no form!

What Does Calcium Do For The Body?

Calcium doesn’t only play a crucial role in bone development. Calcium works in conjunction with various parts of the body, helping to control the pace of your heart. It allows important nutrients to be able to move in and out of the cells in the body, and plays a crucial role in nerve function and muscle function. Calcium is even known to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure! Without calcium, the body would not naturally clot blood; those with calcium deficiencies may bleed a lot from a small wound, or not heal as quickly or as well. Calcium even helps you sleep!

Where Can I Find Calcium?

Calcium is one of the easiest minerals to come by. It is found in a lot of the things you probably eat every day, even if you do not know it. Calcium is found most often in dairy products–cheese, milk, yogurt. Calcium is found in beans, dark green vegetables like kale and even broccoli. A lot of foods, like cereal and milk, even certain baby formulas, have actually been fortified with calcium, so that is another option when it comes to getting calcium into your body

How Much Calcium Should I Have?

Depending on your age, the amount of calcium that you should have in your body in a given day can vary. Babies should have about 400 milligrams, and small children under five years of age should have about 600 milligrams per day. Kids need about 800 milligrams a day; kids who are nearing puberty should increase their intake to about 1200 milligrams a day, which is the recommended allowance for adults as well. The older you get, the more calcium you should have in your body. The elderly should have at least about 1500 milligrams of calcium per day for optimum health.

How Do I Know If I’m Not Getting Enough?

While it’s not always painfully clear as soon as your body starts to lack the right amounts of calcium, the physical effects are pretty obvious when a person is not getting enough. Bones lose strength and density when calcium levels are low, and one may even develop osteoporosis, which is a condition of the bones that causes them to deteriorate. Children who are not getting enough calcium will probably have growth problems. Problems with the teeth and easily broken bones are also an indication of a calcium deficiency, and in such cases medical advice should be sought.

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