Calcium is important to the body. However, the best source of this mineral isn’t milk, but the food that dairy animals get this nutrient from – plants, as previously noted. Here Joanne Washburn, Food.news, reflects on other health benefits of calcium:

“Time and again, calcium has been touted as an essential bone-building nutrient. It is the single most important nutrient that comes to people’s minds at the mention of bone health or stronger bones.

But although this reputation isn’t a bad thing, people often forget about calcium’s other benefits that are just as important for optimal health.

Health benefits

On top of building and maintaining bones and teeth, calcium is also responsible for several critical metabolic functions, such as hormone secretion, muscle function and blood circulation. Therefore, it makes sense that calcium offers health benefits besides stronger bones and teeth. These include:

1. Regulates muscle contraction – Inside muscles, calcium facilitates interactions among proteins during contractions. This mechanism is important because muscles produce the movements that result in various facial expressions, eye movements, respiration and the pumping action of the heart muscle. Calcium also helps relax the smooth muscle that surrounds blood vessels for better circulation.
2. Regulates blood clotting – The process of clotting is complex and involves a range of chemicals, one of which is calcium. Calcium helps blood clot or thicken to prevent excessive bleeding if a blood vessel is damaged.
3. Reduces high blood pressure – Calcium consumption is beneficial for the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure, a major risk factor for chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Sufficient calcium intake or calcium supplementation is also crucial for pregnant women because their blood pressure tends to rise towards the end of their term.
4. Protects against certain cancers – Calcium is also good at protecting against certain kinds of cancer, including those of the colon, prostate and breast. Research on the subject is still limited, but some studies found a reduced risk of the said cancers in participants after eating a diet rich in calcium.

According to experts, both the adult should aim to consume at least 1,000 milligrams (mg) but no more than 2,500 mg of calcium a day. Some studies have shown that taking too much calcium may have negative effects, but the research on this limited.”

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