Importance of Calcium

Calcium is emphasized as an important building block for your health from infancy to old age – the most abundant mineral in your body. It provides strength to your bones (including your teeth), and about 99% of the calcium in your body is in your bones and teeth. But don’t forget the other small percentage in your bloodstream– this calcium assists in muscle contraction, blood clotting, and nerve impulse management - including the regulation of your heartbeat and assistance with short-term memory!

Your body will “steal” calcium from your bones and teeth to keep the right amount in your bloodstream daily – if you are not giving your body enough calcium then your bones and teeth will gradually lose it over time! You lose calcium every day in urine, sweat, feces, etc. – and your body replaces this calcium from your bones if you are not getting it from your diet and/or supplements. Over time this leads to bone mass loss, particularly in women as their hormone levels that aid in calcium absorption drop off after menopause. This drop in bone mass is commonly known as osteoporosis. Over 30 million Americans now suffer from low bone mass disease, which can lead to fractures, complications, and eventual long-term hospitalization. This low bone mass is caused by a lack of calcium in the diet – a lack of absorbable calcium that can preserve bone mass while the body uses its 1% for other needs

Prevention of bone mass loss is critical – maintaining proper calcium levels prevents tooth and bone decay that can be crippling and expensive (over $10 billion in costs are attributed to osteoporosis annually). Recent studies by a Harvard University team even indicated that raising calcium levels to the recommended daily amount could also lower the risk of some types of colon cancer by 50%. Your dental health depends on calcium as well – calcium in the saliva is a key part of the remineralization process along with fluoride. Patients with dry mouth or low calcium levels (or both) miss out on this benefit and run a higher risk of dental caries (tooth decay).

So are you convinced yet? Calcium is a critical mineral for maintaining your long-term health, and you should do your body a favor and use the maximum calcium solution in a daily multivitamin – take BTB Vitamins!