Get Started
Find the location nearest to you and book your FREE CONSULTATION!
Find the location nearest to you and book your FREE CONSULTATION!
Home » Community » Did you know?
Why are calcium and vitamin D so important? |
 | ||
 Calcium and vitamin D supplements have been receiving attention because they work together to prevent several chronic diseases. Since most people lead busy lives, the amount of calcium and vitamin D from their diet often falls well below recommended daily requirements, therefore supplementing becomes important for the prevention of disease and for the maintenance of good health. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation is often recommended by many health care practitioners as a first line treatment for lowering the risks of cancer, osteoporosis, PMS, and diabetes. Calcium, the most abundant mineral in the body, has several important functions. It builds and protects bones, making them hard and resistant to breaking, and helps with muscle function so as to prevent muscle spasms and muscle cramps. Nerve transmission requires calcium, making it an important part of the nervous system by helping relay messages from the brain to the body and vice versa. Calcium also helps regulate blood pressure. Vitamin D is just as important as calcium because it helps the body absorb calcium, first in the intestinal tract and then by the bones and teeth. Vitamin D actually increases calcium absorption by as much as 80 per cent. It also plays a crucial role with the parathyroid gland and within the immune system. Cancer: Prevention Many studies have shown that supplementing with calcium and vitamin D assists the body in preventing the development of cancer. Some studies looked at specific cancers like prostate, breast, and intestinal, while others have shown benefits for most all cancers. Calcium supplementation has been considered key in the prevention of colon cancer. The Nurses’ Health Study conducted in the United States also showed that premenopausal women with the highest calcium consumption had a 20 per cent lower risk of breast cancer than those with the lowest consumption. The Canadian Cancer Society has also recommended that all adults should supplement with vitamin D as a result of the great evidence supporting the role of vitamin D in cancer prevention. Vitamin D has been shown to block growth and replication of various cancer cells, including breast, ovary, prostate, and colon. There were even studies showing that vitamin D consumption can reduce the risk of skin cancer. Osteoporosis: Treatment and Prevention Approximately one in three women and one in four men over the age of 50 have osteoporosis, a condition that makes the bones weak and brittle. Our bones renew themselves every day by breaking down old bone and building new bone. In healthy individuals, this process is balanced; with osteoporosis, the balance shifts and the body breaks down more bone than it builds. Osteoporosis is often referred to as a “silent disease” because affected individuals experience no symptoms and don’t realize they have it. Left untreated, osteoporosis may lead to fractures, which commonly occur in the hip, spine, or wrists. Calcium and vitamin D are vital in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, working together to provide the body with the necessary requirements to build and maintain strong bones. The following chart depicts the specific daily requirements from all sources of calcium and vitamin D as outlined by the Osteoporosis Society of Canada. Other Health Benefits High calcium and vitamin D supplementation also reduces the occurrence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is often characterized by a wide range of symptoms, from weight gain and bloating to mood swings and depression, often occurring a few days to weeks prior to the start of menstruation. The University of Massachusetts conducted a study that demonstrated that women supplementing with calcium and vitamin D were 30 to 40 per cent less likely to develop PMS. There has also been indication of calcium and vitamin D reducing the risk of diabetes by 20 per cent when compared to individuals not taking of calcium and vitamin D supplements. This particular study actually found that the reduced risk of diabetes was directly related to supplement sources rather than food sources for calcium and vitamin D. Herbal Magic’s Cal-6 + Mag Tab™ Herbal Magic offers a unique calcium and vitamin D supplement designed to meet your daily requirements. Cal-6 + Mag Tab™ contains pH balanced calcium and magnesium from multiple sources in a chelated form. The calcium in Cal-6 + Mag Tab™ is not from a shellfish origin so it can be used safely by individuals with a shellfish allergy who are not able to use other commercial products. This unique formula offers several advantages over other supplements. In addition to the health benefits of calcium and vitamin D, Cal-6 + Mag Tab™ also provides magnesium and vitamin C supplementation. Magnesium is important in reducing the risk of heart disease by regulating blood pressure. When magnesium levels fall low, blood pressure rises and the heart’s rhythm can become disrupted, causing arrhythmias or an irregular heart beat. Chemical reactions from enzymes and those that occur within the bones also depend extensively on magnesium. Further, vitamin C has been associated with reduced cancer risk and reduced heart disease. Vitamin C has also been found to protect against cataracts and strengthen blood vessels and the immune system. Research also emphasizes the antioxidant protection offered by vitamin C. Herbal Magic’s Cal-6 + Mag Tab™ provides the appropriate concentrations of calcium and vitamin D and complements those benefits with the added benefits of magnesium and vitamin C. Incorporate Herbal Magic’s Cal-6 + Mag Tab™ into your daily regimen and start to reap its health benefits today! Age (Male or Female) Recommended Daily Calcium 4-8 years 800 mg/day 9-18 years 1300 mg/day 19-49 years 1000 mg/day ≥ 50 years 1500 mg/day Pregnant or breast-feeding women 1000 mg/day Age (Male or Female) Recommended Daily Vitamin D < 50 years 400 IU/day ≥ 50 years 800 IU/day | |||
Recent Articles: | |||