Calcium is a mineral necessary for the growth and maintenance of strong teeth and bones, nerve signaling, muscle contraction, and secretion of certain hormones and enzymes.
Calcium is very important for your health.
In fact, you have more calcium in your body than any other mineral.
It makes up much of your bones and teeth and plays a role in heart health, muscle function and nerve signaling.
While rare, a deficiency in calcium can lead to numbness in the fingers and toes, muscle cramps, convulsions, lethargy, loss of appetite, and abnormal heart rhythms. A long-term deficiency can lead to bone loss (osteopenia) and fragile bones (osteoporosis).
Conversely, excess calcium (particularly from supplements) can lead to kidney stones, calcification of soft tissue, and increased risk of vascular diseases like stroke and heart attack.
High calcium foods include tofu, milk, yogurt, cheese, leafy greens, beans, clams, okra, trout, and acorn squash.
These include seafood, leafy greens, legumes, dried fruit, tofu and various foods that are fortified with calcium.
