Calcium Facts
A Few Facts About Calcium
Many of us understand that calcium is important to the human body, but how does our knowledge of calcium facts compare to that of protein, water, or carbohydrates? Calcium plays many vital roles in the human body. In order to get a better understanding of these roles as well as others outside of the human body, we are going to delve into a few key calcium facts.
Before we get started in boosting our knowledge of how calcium works in the human body, we first need to understand exactly what calcium is. While most of us picture calcium as a mineral, the true form of calcium, Ca, is technically an alkaline earth metal. It is the fifth most abundant metal on Earth and is also the most plentiful metal (by weight) found in animals. In humans, calcium is noted as being the fifth most abundant element, which is no surprise considering how large our bone structure is. The sort of calcium we view as a mineral is actually an ionic solution of calcium, Ca2+, which is also known as a calcium salt.
Bone Development
One of the most well known roles that calcium plays in the human body is building and strengthening the skeletal system. When we’re born, our bones are largely consisted of a cartilage-like tissue. As we take in calcium, the calcium bonds to the bones, helping them grow and strengthen. The more calcium that we take in, the more there is available to bond to the bones to turn them into the strong substance we typically think of when we envision a bone. As we grow up, our bones continue to absorb calcium and grow until around the age of 35. At this time, the skeletal system reaches its highest mass. After this time, bone loss, or osteoporosis, is more likely to occur which is why it is important to maintain a steady and sufficient intake of calcium in the later years of life.
Muscle Control
One might be surprised to learn that calcium is an essential component of voluntary muscle movement. Every time we want to move a part of our body, our brain sends an impulse to the fibers of the muscle which stimulates the release of calcium. The calcium then bonds to the proteins within the muscle tissue which allow the muscle to physically contract, or move. When someone’s body does not have a sufficient amount of calcium on hand, which is referred to as a calcium deficiency, the muscles may spasm or contract uncontrollably. Cramps, especially in the calves, often occur as a result of low calcium.
Blood Clotting
Whenever we injure ourselves, such as a cut on the finger, platelets within the blood gather near the cut in an attempt to stop the blood free-flowing from the body. When the blood gathers near the wound’s opening, the platelets work to form a substance called fibrin. Fibrin is thin and sticky and works similarly to the thread in a net. But where does calcium come in? Calcium, as well as Vitamin K, attach to the blood cells to help them stick together (hence the term “clotting”). When the body doesn’t have enough calcium, the blood takes a longer time to clot. In the event that a total deficiency in calcium occurs, one could literally bleed to death.
The amount of calcium humans should receive each day largely depends upon one’s age. Children between one and three years of age should receive about 500mg per day. Children between four and eight years of age should receive about 800mg per day, and children between nine and eighteen years of age should get at least 1,300mg per day. Adults under the age of 50 should receive a daily amount of 1,000mg through both supplements and diet. Adults over 51 years of age should endeavor to take in around 1,200mg per day to lessen the chances of developing osteoporosis. Supplements of calcium with added magnesium are ideal as magnesium encourages the absorption of calcium within the body. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much calcium one gets if the body doesn’t have adequate amounts of magnesium to help absorb the calcium.