Practically no one ingests enough calcium in their daily diet, so calcium is one of the nutrients that is highly recommended in terms of supplementation. Besides being helpful in supporting and maintaining bone integrity, calcium serves a dynamic role as a mineral. It is very important in the activity of many bodily enzymes. It is important for athletes in maintaining proper fluid balance as well as aiding in the action of skeletal and muscle contraction. In addition, calcium may be helpful in preventing the incidence of colon cancer. Canadians are being urged to increase their intake of fresh fruits and vegetables to get the required minerals, however for those who do not typically have the best diets it is important to make sure that one is getting enough of this crucial mineral.

The National Academy of Sciences has established guidelines for calcium that are 25 to 50 percent higher than previous recommendations. For ages 20 to 50, calcium consumption is recommended to be at least 1,000 mg daily; for adults over age 51, the recommendation is 1,200 mg daily. The most common supplemental amount for adults is 800 to 1,000 mg per day. Some physicians recommend 1,000 milligrams of supplement calcium daily for postmenopausal women taking estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and 1,500 milligrams daily for postmenopausal women not taking ERT. An intake of 1,200 milligrams daily appears to be adequate for both groups.

Calcium plays a huge role in many major regulatory bodily processes with implications that extend far beyond the age factor. Other than elderly women who may be susceptible to bone loss, younger women, pregnant and lactating women, growing children and those with high blood pressure are suitable candidates for calcium supplementation. Younger women need more calcium to build up the strength of their bones around the ages of 20 and up. It is safe to say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Pregnant and lactating women need extra calcium, at least 1200 mg /day to foster the healthy growth of new cells and of breast milk. Finally, those with high blood pressure have been found to have low levels of calcium intake and further studies have confirmed the positive impact of calcium supplementation on heart health. Of course, calcium has been most widely touted as a preventative of osteoporosis. Because many people are uneducated about the far-reaching necessity and benefit of calcium, the drive to add a supplement to one's diet is floundering. Further, it has been found that many younger and middle-aged women who should be ingesting greater amounts of calcium in both diet and supplementation, are the ones who actually ingest the least. The mindset that milk products are fattening has contributed to a lack of quality calcium intake. Women in general who have a vested interest in their health should make moves to begin calcium supplementation. Moreover, suppose you are predisposed to osteoporosis and are even feeling a few of the signs of it, including headache and a decrease in height; while calcium supplementation is one of the key ingredients to preventing and even fighting ongoing osteoporosis, there are a few other important factors that must be taken into account. Many other things can also play a role in causing osteoporosis. Some of these are seemingly normal lifestyle factors including smoking, lack of exercise, low levels of magnesium, zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin K, and B12, a high alcohol intake and altered vitamin D metabolism. To fight and/or prevent osteoporosis requires a focus of your attention on these aforementioned variables as well as steadily supplementing your diet with a quality calcium supplement such as Isotonix^® Calcium formula. So, in turn, if you know that you are inherently averse to working out or that you like the occasional smoke after work, your need for a good calcium supplement increases tremendously regardless of age.