Calci-Yum

Today I learned the basics of calcium, so here I'll share some facts, without getting too scientific
*90% of calcium in our body is in the bones and teeth, while 1% is is in plasma & soft tissue
*Calcium absorption differs among the population, ranging from 75% in children/adolescents to only 10% absorption in the elderly (adults have 20-40% absorption)
*Certain factors increase or decrease calcium absorption.

Factors that decrease the amount of calcium your body is getting:
-a high pH of the stomach (someone who's taking a lot of antacids for acid reflux)
-phytates found in whole wheat bind to the mineral, so it can't be absorbed (chelation)
-oxalates decrease the absorption, spinach is a high-oxalate food
-fatty acids (saponification)
-if you're getting a high concentration of other minerals, they interfere and compete with each other to enter the cell

Factors that increase the amount of calcium your body is getting:
-presence of food (stimulates stomach acid) *take calcium supplements with food*
-acidic environment (taking calcium with orange juice, vitamin c) (an acidic environment breaks down the food releasing calcium, so it can be absorbed)
-vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption

-Also, interestingly, caffeine decreases absorption of calcium, but if you drink your coffee with milk, it counteracts the negative effect of calcium excretion by caffeine.

It's important to get enough calcium in the diet, especially while you're young, because if you don't have enough in your bones, osteoporosis may occur later in life. This is a serious disease that can cause bones to break easily and make a person disabled. Bone density starts decreasing in the 30's and 40's in women, and after age 60 in men, which is why women have a higher chance of getting osteoporosis. For more on calcium and calcium supplements, click on calcium info . And go drink some nonfat milk or soy milk!