Here is why Calcium is important for Older women

Proper calcium intake is important to everyone throughout life because calcium is critical to the health and longevity of our bones. Very few ladies check if there body if having Calcium deficiency or not. This is something every woman must make sure that their body has enough calcium to remain health all through their lives. Calcium is crucial for strong bones and teeth, and it is especially important for children and older women for good bone growth.

Calcium absorption and bone development is at its peak up to age 20, and then decreases at around age 30 when a draining process begins. An adequate intake of calcium, plus an appropriate intake of vitamin D, can significantly increase bone mass in both growing children and young adults, and it can decrease bone loss during ageing.

Calcium is lost daily through hair, skin, nails, sweat, urine. This lost calcium must be replaced, or the body will take calcium from the bones to perform other functions. Research says that if women don't take enough dietary calcium and vitamin D, then there is a chance of the hormones that regulate calcium react negatively with estrogen and progesterone and trigger PMS symptoms.

In case of older women, they must pay particular attention to meeting daily calcium needs. Women, beginning at age 51 need at least 1,200 mg of calcium per day, but it might vary depending on person to person, and your doctor would be a better judge to tell you what is the right about of intake according to your present body levels. Females have a higher rate of bone loss when estrogen levels decline with menopause because estrogen enhances calcium absorption and decreases its excretion.

After menopause, women’s need for calcium increases if they do not take estrogen replacement. Also, as we age we produce less stomach acid which hinders calcium absorption.  Compounding absorption problems in the elderly is low vitamin D levels due to diet and lack of sunlight. Furthermore, females have a lighter bone structure than men, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis.

According to various studies, 68 percent of the 44 million people at risk for osteoporosis are women. And one of every two women over age 50 will likely have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. That’s twice the rate of fractures in men one in four. Also 75 percent of all cases of hip osteoporosis affect women.

Emerging research supports an adequate calcium intake as a means to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Though 99 percent of the calcium in the body is in the bones and teeth, the remaining one percent plays a crucial role in other bodily functions, such as nerve transmission and muscular function. Hence taking Calcium rich food and also checking if you are calcium deficient and taking the right supplements is very important for your good health

...Divya