Dairy products such as cheese are rich in calcium.
Calcium is one of the most important and most abundant minerals in the human body. This essential mineral is responsible for bone growth but also plays a part in blood vessel contraction and muscle contraction. Several factors, including diet and vitamin deficiencies, can greatly reduce your body's ability to absorb the calcium you consume. Knowing the most common calcium absorption reducing factors can help you change your lifestyle and remain healthy for many years to come.
Diets High in Phytic Acid
Phytic acid is often found in whole grains, bran, beans, sweet potatoes and spinach. This acid will bond with several minerals in the body, including calcium, and actually form a salt. The result is not good for people who need extra calcium for health reasons; the body will expel the new salt compound in the form of waste. This means that your body will absorb little calcium when it is consumed with high amounts of phytic acid. Phytic acid does not have lasting calcium absorption effects. The acid will only affect what you eat at that very moment (i.e. eating a spinach salad will hinder your body's ability to absorb the calcium in a glass of milk today but not tomorrow).
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose is a naturally occurring sugar in diary products that some people are allergic to. This condition is known as lactose intolerance. The result of consuming lactose while having this condition can range from bloating to diarrhea. This happens because the body wants to expel the lactose as quickly as possible. The result is that the body has little time to digest the dairy product and the calcium inside. The problems of and lactose intolerance can be avoided by buying digestive aids or lactose-free dairy products.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D is mostly created through your body's interaction with sun light and is one of the most important factors in calcium absorption. Low levels of vitamin D will result in poor absorption, regardless of how much calcium you are taking. There are two simple solutions to this problem. The first is to get outside more. More sunshine will mean more vitamin D in your body and better calcium absorption. If getting outside is too hard, you can take vitamin D supplements.
Age
Calcium absorption decreases as we age. This is a problem for all people but especially women since they are more susceptible to diseases such as osteoporosis. Since this naturally occurs as life goes on, the best way to fight poor absorption through age is to take calcium supplements. Absorption levels can decrease by as much as 20 percent with age, so supplements will be important for maintaining strong bones, teeth, and muscles.
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