Name:Anza Sajjad
Work: Article Writing
Topic: Calcium
Date:06-06-2025
“Calcium”
Introduction to Calcium
Calcium is a mineral that plays a very important role in the human body and in the natural world.
It is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth and also the most abundant mineral in the
,human body. Calcium is essential for many vital functions, such as building and maintaining
strong bones and teeth, helping muscles to work, allowing nerves to send messages, and enabling
blood to clot properly. It is found in a wide variety of foods and also in many natural materials
like limestone, chalk, and marble. Even though calcium is commonly associated with bones and
dairy products, its importance goes far beyond that. It is used in medicine, industry, agriculture,
and even in making things like cement and glass. Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol
“Ca” and the atomic number 20. It belongs to a group of elements called alkaline earth metals
and is found naturally in many rocks and minerals. In the human body, about 99% of calcium is
stored in bones and teeth, while the remaining 1% is found in the blood, muscles, and other
tissues. This tiny amount in the blood is very important because it helps in many body functions,
such as maintaining heart rhythm and muscle contraction. Calcium is truly a mineral that
supports life in many forms and shapes.
The Role of Calcium in the Human Body
Calcium is extremely important for the human body. It is best known for keeping bones and teeth
strong and healthy. From infancy to old age, calcium helps in bone growth and maintenance.
Children need a lot of calcium to develop their bones properly, and adults need it to maintain
bone mass and avoid weakening of the skeleton. If the body does not get enough calcium from
food, it will start taking calcium from the bones, making them weak and brittle over time. This
can lead to diseases like osteoporosis, a condition where bones become thin and fragile. But
calcium’s role is not just limited to bones. It helps muscles to contract and relax properly,
including the heart muscle. Every heartbeat depends on the correct amount of calcium in the
blood. Calcium also plays a role in sending messages through the nervous system, helping nerves
carry signals from the brain to other parts of the body. It also helps blood vessels to tighten and
relax when needed and is involved in the process that allows blood to clot when there is an
injury. Without enough calcium, the body cannot perform these essential functions correctly,
which can lead to many health problems.
Sources of Calcium
There are many sources of calcium that people can include in their diet to stay healthy. The most
well-known sources are dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt. These foods are rich in
calcium and also provide other nutrients that help the body use calcium better. People who are
lactose intolerant or choose not to consume dairy can still get calcium from other foods. Leafy
green vegetables like spinach, kale, and collard greens contain calcium, though in smaller
, amounts. Some types of fish, especially those with soft, edible bones like sardines and salmon,
are also good sources of calcium. Other foods like almonds, sesame seeds, tofu made with
calcium sulfate, and fortified foods like orange juice, cereals, and plant-based milks also offer
calcium. In many countries, foods are fortified with calcium to help people meet their daily
needs. Supplements are also available for people who have difficulty getting enough calcium
from their diet, but these should be used under a doctor’s advice to avoid taking too much.
Drinking clean, hard water can also provide small amounts of calcium because it contains
dissolved minerals. Overall, it is important to have a balanced diet with a variety of foods to
ensure proper calcium intake.
Calcium Absorption in the Body
The human body cannot use calcium unless it is absorbed properly from the food we eat.
Calcium absorption takes place mostly in the small intestine. Several factors affect how well
calcium is absorbed. One important factor is vitamin D. This vitamin helps the body take in more
calcium from the food and also helps the bones to store it. Without enough vitamin D, the body
cannot absorb calcium properly, no matter how much calcium is in the diet. Age also affects
calcium absorption. Young children and teenagers absorb calcium more efficiently because their
bodies are still growing. As people get older, their ability to absorb calcium decreases, which is
why older adults need to pay extra attention to their calcium and vitamin D intake. Some
substances in food can reduce calcium absorption. For example, oxalates found in spinach and
phytic acid in some grains and beans can bind with calcium and prevent it from being absorbed.
On the other hand, eating enough protein and getting plenty of physical activity can improve
calcium absorption and help maintain bone health. The body carefully controls how much
calcium it absorbs based on how much it needs. If calcium levels in the blood are low, the body
will increase absorption, but if levels are high, it will absorb less.
Calcium Deficiency and Its Effects
When the body does not get enough calcium over time, it can lead to calcium deficiency, which
has serious effects on health. In children, calcium deficiency can cause rickets, a disease where
bones become soft and bend easily. This condition leads to bowed legs, delayed growth, and
other skeletal problems. In adults, long-term calcium deficiency can lead to osteopenia and then
osteoporosis. Osteopenia is a condition where bone density is lower than normal, and
osteoporosis is a more severe condition where bones become weak and can break easily, even
with minor injuries. People with osteoporosis are at high risk of fractures, especially in the hips,
Work: Article Writing
Topic: Calcium
Date:06-06-2025
“Calcium”
Introduction to Calcium
Calcium is a mineral that plays a very important role in the human body and in the natural world.
It is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth and also the most abundant mineral in the
,human body. Calcium is essential for many vital functions, such as building and maintaining
strong bones and teeth, helping muscles to work, allowing nerves to send messages, and enabling
blood to clot properly. It is found in a wide variety of foods and also in many natural materials
like limestone, chalk, and marble. Even though calcium is commonly associated with bones and
dairy products, its importance goes far beyond that. It is used in medicine, industry, agriculture,
and even in making things like cement and glass. Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol
“Ca” and the atomic number 20. It belongs to a group of elements called alkaline earth metals
and is found naturally in many rocks and minerals. In the human body, about 99% of calcium is
stored in bones and teeth, while the remaining 1% is found in the blood, muscles, and other
tissues. This tiny amount in the blood is very important because it helps in many body functions,
such as maintaining heart rhythm and muscle contraction. Calcium is truly a mineral that
supports life in many forms and shapes.
The Role of Calcium in the Human Body
Calcium is extremely important for the human body. It is best known for keeping bones and teeth
strong and healthy. From infancy to old age, calcium helps in bone growth and maintenance.
Children need a lot of calcium to develop their bones properly, and adults need it to maintain
bone mass and avoid weakening of the skeleton. If the body does not get enough calcium from
food, it will start taking calcium from the bones, making them weak and brittle over time. This
can lead to diseases like osteoporosis, a condition where bones become thin and fragile. But
calcium’s role is not just limited to bones. It helps muscles to contract and relax properly,
including the heart muscle. Every heartbeat depends on the correct amount of calcium in the
blood. Calcium also plays a role in sending messages through the nervous system, helping nerves
carry signals from the brain to other parts of the body. It also helps blood vessels to tighten and
relax when needed and is involved in the process that allows blood to clot when there is an
injury. Without enough calcium, the body cannot perform these essential functions correctly,
which can lead to many health problems.
Sources of Calcium
There are many sources of calcium that people can include in their diet to stay healthy. The most
well-known sources are dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt. These foods are rich in
calcium and also provide other nutrients that help the body use calcium better. People who are
lactose intolerant or choose not to consume dairy can still get calcium from other foods. Leafy
green vegetables like spinach, kale, and collard greens contain calcium, though in smaller
, amounts. Some types of fish, especially those with soft, edible bones like sardines and salmon,
are also good sources of calcium. Other foods like almonds, sesame seeds, tofu made with
calcium sulfate, and fortified foods like orange juice, cereals, and plant-based milks also offer
calcium. In many countries, foods are fortified with calcium to help people meet their daily
needs. Supplements are also available for people who have difficulty getting enough calcium
from their diet, but these should be used under a doctor’s advice to avoid taking too much.
Drinking clean, hard water can also provide small amounts of calcium because it contains
dissolved minerals. Overall, it is important to have a balanced diet with a variety of foods to
ensure proper calcium intake.
Calcium Absorption in the Body
The human body cannot use calcium unless it is absorbed properly from the food we eat.
Calcium absorption takes place mostly in the small intestine. Several factors affect how well
calcium is absorbed. One important factor is vitamin D. This vitamin helps the body take in more
calcium from the food and also helps the bones to store it. Without enough vitamin D, the body
cannot absorb calcium properly, no matter how much calcium is in the diet. Age also affects
calcium absorption. Young children and teenagers absorb calcium more efficiently because their
bodies are still growing. As people get older, their ability to absorb calcium decreases, which is
why older adults need to pay extra attention to their calcium and vitamin D intake. Some
substances in food can reduce calcium absorption. For example, oxalates found in spinach and
phytic acid in some grains and beans can bind with calcium and prevent it from being absorbed.
On the other hand, eating enough protein and getting plenty of physical activity can improve
calcium absorption and help maintain bone health. The body carefully controls how much
calcium it absorbs based on how much it needs. If calcium levels in the blood are low, the body
will increase absorption, but if levels are high, it will absorb less.
Calcium Deficiency and Its Effects
When the body does not get enough calcium over time, it can lead to calcium deficiency, which
has serious effects on health. In children, calcium deficiency can cause rickets, a disease where
bones become soft and bend easily. This condition leads to bowed legs, delayed growth, and
other skeletal problems. In adults, long-term calcium deficiency can lead to osteopenia and then
osteoporosis. Osteopenia is a condition where bone density is lower than normal, and
osteoporosis is a more severe condition where bones become weak and can break easily, even
with minor injuries. People with osteoporosis are at high risk of fractures, especially in the hips,
