Your Childrens Health

Calcium is essential for bone health throughout our lives. Consumed calcium is stored in our stomachs by the action of stomach acid. From there it converts it into a form that the small intestine can easily absorb for the use of our bodies. The amount of calcium that the body needs all depends on our sex, age and lifestyle. The current recommended daily intake to avoid any defiencies is 800 mg per day. Some expert groups suggest higher doses for optimal bone health.

The following are some calcium rich foods. One serving equals approximately 200 mg of calcium:

• ½ pint homogenized milk = 1 serving

• 1 large yogurt (200ml) = 1 serving

• Tofu (125g) = 1 serving

• 1 portion cooked broccoli (150g) = 1 serving

• 3 slices blocked cheese (40g) = 1 serving

• Baked beans (270g) = 1 serving

To achieve maximum calcium absorption:

• Eat or drink suggested amount of calcium rich foods

• Allow absorption from the gut

• Prevent losses from the bones (certain medications, diet, etc)

To obtain these goals, most children need to increase their calcium they intake on a daily basis. Drinking three 8oz glasses of milk a day is recommended. Calcium is better absorbed during the pubescent years. Calcium also helps support healthy teeth. Pregnant mothers should drink milk or take calcium supplements while the baby is in utero.

Young children need a lot of calcium to help aid in the continual growth of jawbones and permanent teeth. When the teeth first form and mineralize, they need a large supply of phosphorus and calcium to form a hard structure. This takes place over some time.

Having the right amount of phosphorus and calcium during growth is crucial for healthy teeth. Calcium makes jawbones healthy and strong. Jawbones need strength to hold teeth in place. Other than phosphorus and calcium, milk also has vitamin A and D in it. Vitamin A is important for the mucous membranes in the mouth, and vitamin D promotes absorption of calcium for health bones and jaw growth.

Related:

This entry was posted on Friday, March 17th, 2006 at 6:10 am and is filed under Pregnancy and Newborns, Adolescence, Dental. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.