Calcium Supplements - How They Help Our Bones

In today's more health conscious world, all kinds of vitamin and mineral supplements are available. There are many people who use these products in an attempt to improve the quality of their health. One of the most popular types of supplement is calcium. Consumers have long been given information on the importance of calcium supplements for good bone health.

While everyone regardless of age or gender needs calcium for healthy bones, the biggest group of people who can benefit from a calcium supplement is postmenopausal women. These ladies are at a higher risk for osteoporosis. It has long been known that as we age, bone density lessens and our ability to produce more healthy bone cells diminishes. Many people in this group and others are taking the preemptive strike against bone loss by ensuring that they get the recommended amount of calcium each day.

Besides postmenopausal women, older people in general are finding that taking a calcium supplement is an excellent way to help reduce the risk of severe bone loss or fracture. Both men and women naturally lose some of the strength in their bones and the result is more brittle and fragile bone mass. Turning to the aid of a calcium supplement helps to hold off this often common problem. The hip is prone to breaking as the body ages. Another part of the skeleton frequently at risk for fracture is the shoulders. One minor fall could result in weeks or months of recuperation, even hospitalization.

When the natural production of estrogen and other female hormones declines during menopause bone density is quickly affected. Bone loss of 2%-3% each year during menopause is not uncommon. In addition to menopause being a risk factor for osteoporosis, women who are small boned, Asian or Caucasian, and have a family history of Osteoporosis are generally at higher risk. Taking preventative measures is one way women can avoid osteoporosis and take care of their bone health.

Of course younger people are not at as high a risk as those who are in or approaching their golden years, but it isn't impossible for even younger groups to experience below average bone mass from inadequate calcium consumption or insufficient weight bearing exercise. Pregnancy and other hormonal changes take their toll on the quality of the bones as well. Everyone should be on the look out for their skeletal structures continued good health and strength.

Calcium rich foods and supplements help maintain blood calcium levels therefore reducing the need for calcium releases from the skeleton. Calcium intake helps keep bones strong and reduce the risk of hip fracture and other unnecessary bone breaks. In the case of osteoporosis, height is often lost as a result of the spine bending due to soft bone tissue. A calcium supplement or calcium rich foods, plus exercise, can help you slow the loss of height or other preventable effects to ensure a more satisfying, safer future.

When you are considering taking a calcium supplement, it's important to be aware of the recommended intake for specific age groups and genders. Here is in the U.S., the recommended intake for young adults, 19 to 50, is 1000mg a day. After that age, the amount of calcium intake you should aim for is 1200mg. Vitamin D is often a part of bone health as well. Younger adults should generally take 5mg daily with the older adults advised to get 10mg.

If you are in doubt as to the importance of calcium supplements, take a look at how much money is spent annually in osteoporosis related insurance claims or medical costs. In Europe the number tops out at $37.6 billion with the U.S. reporting $17.5 billion. A good portion of that money probably was spent on osteoporosis related fractures. Of course those figures don't add in the pain and recovery time needed to heal from such an injury or impact on quality of life of the individual.

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