We all know how food is important for our body to fuel energy and for the body to function properly. Intake of food based on the food pyramid and the daily recommended nutrient intake (RNI) has been emphasised since primary school during lessons in Pendidikan Jasmani dan Kesihatan. Aside from practising healthy eating habits, intake of vitamins and minerals need to be on par. There are various vitamins and minerals that are essential for the human body. One of the essentials is calcium and you can rest assured to get calcium by taking this Blackmores supplement.
Calcium as we all know has always been associated with bone and teeth health. This fact is backed up by the vast number of people mentioning calcium when being asked on what can help build strong bones and teeth. Calcium is a type of mineral. Aside from playing a role in bone and teeth health, it is needed for other body functions. Such body functions mediated by calcium are for muscle movement, to help the brain communicate with all parts of the body by sending messages through nerve processes and for hormones to work. Calcium has been linked to help prevent fragile bone (osteoporosis) and bone fractures especially among women in older age.
The recommended calcium intake on a daily basis as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) is 500 mg. You can easily fulfil this by taking the Blackmore supplement. It is important not to take it excessively as it can cause harm to the body. The upper limit (UL) for calcium is 2500 mg daily from food and supplements. Taking excessive calcium may actually increase risk for kidney stones, prostate cancer and constipation. Accumulation of calcium may also trigger heart problems due to the deposited calcium in the blood vessels from the long-term high calcium doses. If you or someone you know exhibits symptoms of hypercalcemia (high level of calcium in the blood), you should seek medical advice immediately. Such symptoms include nausea, vomiting, chest pain, heart palpitation, irregular heart rate and fatigue.
Since the upper limit includes supplement and food intake, it is essential to make sure you do not take too much either of it to prevent yourself from getting too much calcium. It is helpful to know what food contains a significant amount of calcium. Example of the food are dairy milk, cheese, yoghurt, leafy vegetables such as bok choy, kale, okra and spinach, soy milk fortified with calcium, product using fortified flour such as tortilla and bread, canned baked bean and canned fish such as salmon and sardine. Knowing the food you are having contains calcium, you may want to balance your calcium supplements and meal for the day to meet the daily intake requirement.
You probably wonder who is much prone to have low levels of calcium and need supplements such as this Blackmores supplement. Postmenopausal woman and those who don’t eat or drink dairy products such as vegans or people with milk allergies or lactose intolerance are the most vulnerable to fall into calcium deficiency conditions. Hence, calcium supplements can help to fill in the gaps. Aside from supplements, they have to opt for other sources of calcium. This can be plants-based food such as soy milk that has been fortified with calcium and calcium-fortified fruit juices. Lactose-free or reduced lactose can also be a great substitution for the standard typical dairy products.
In short, Blackmores supplement aids the body to get sufficient daily calcium and cover the calcium lacking from daily meals. Since it is a supplement, it should never be a food substitution. If you are taking other medication, do discuss with your doctor first before taking a supplement.