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The Importance of Calcium & Vitamin DBy Kiran Basra B.Sc. Phm., Pharm. D.
Calcium and vitamin D supplements have been receiving attention because
they work together to prevent several chronic diseases. Since most people
lead busy lives, the amount of calcium and vitamin D from their diet often
falls well below recommended daily requirements. Therefore supplementing
becomes important for the prevention of disease and for the maintenance of
good health. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation is often recommended by
many health care practitioners as a first-line treatment for lowering the
risks of cancer, osteoporosis, PMS, and diabetes. Calcium, the most abundant mineral in the body, has several important
functions. It builds and protects bones, making them hard and resistant to
breaking, and helps with muscle function so as to prevent muscle spasms
and muscle cramps. Nerve transmission requires calcium, making it an
important part of the nervous system by helping relay messages from the
brain to the body and vice versa. Calcium also helps regulate blood
pressure. Vitamin D is just as important as calcium because it helps the body
absorb calcium, first in the intestinal tract and then by the bones and
teeth. Vitamin D actually increases calcium absorption by as much as 80
per cent. It also plays a crucial role with the parathyroid gland and
within the immune system. Many studies have shown that supplementing with calcium and vitamin D
assists the body in preventing the development of cancer. Some studies
looked at specific cancers like prostate, breast, and intestinal, while
others have shown benefits for most cancers. Calcium supplementation has
been considered key in the prevention of colon cancer. The Nurses’ Health
Study, conducted in the United States, also showed that premenopausal
women with the highest calcium consumption had a 20 per cent lower risk of
breast cancer than those with the lowest consumption. The Canadian Cancer Society also recommends that all adults should
supplement with vitamin D because of the great evidence supporting the
role of vitamin D in cancer prevention. Vitamin D has been shown to block
growth and replication of various cancer cells, including breast, ovary,
prostate, and colon. There were even studies showing that vitamin D
consumption can reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Approximately one in three women and one in four men over the age of 50
have osteoporosis, a condition that makes the bones weak and brittle. Our
bones renew themselves every day by breaking down old bone and building
new bone. In healthy individuals, this process is balanced; with
osteoporosis, the balance shifts and the body breaks down more bone than
it builds. Osteoporosis is often referred to as a “silent disease” because
affected individuals experience no symptoms and don’t realize they have
it. Left untreated, osteoporosis may lead to fractures, which commonly
occur in the hips, spine, or wrists. Calcium and vitamin D are vital in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, working together to provide the body with the necessary requirements to build and maintain strong bones.
Other Health Benefits High calcium and vitamin D supplementation also reduces the occurrence
of PMS. PMS is often characterized by a wide range of symptoms, from
weight gain and bloating to mood swings and depression, often occurring a
few days to weeks prior to the start of menstruation. The University of
Massachusetts conducted a study demonstrating that women supplementing
with calcium and vitamin D were 30 to 40 per cent less likely to develop
PMS. There has also been indication of calcium and vitamin D reducing the risk of diabetes by 20 per cent when compared to individuals not taking calcium and vitamin D supplements. This particular study actually found that the reduced risk of diabetes was directly related to supplement sources rather than food sources for calcium and vitamin D.
Herbal Magic Cal-6 + Mag Tab™ Herbal Magic offers a unique calcium and vitamin D supplement designed to meet your daily requirements. Cal-6 + Mag Tab contains pH balanced calcium and magnesium from multiple sources in a chelated form. The calcium in Cal-6 + Mag Tab is not of a shellfish origin so it can be used safely by individuals with a shellfish allergy who are not able to use other commercial products. In addition to the health benefits of calcium and vitamin D, Cal-6 + Mag Tab provides magnesium and vitamin C supplementation. Magnesium is important in reducing the risk of heart disease by regulating blood pressure. When magnesium levels fall low, blood pressure rises and the heart’s rhythm can become disrupted, causing arrhythmias or an irregular heart beat. Chemical reactions from enzymes and those that occur within the bones also depend extensively on magnesium. Further, vitamin C has been associated with reduced cancer risk and reduced heart disease. Vitamin C has also been found to protect against cataracts and strengthen blood vessels and the immune system. Research also emphasizes the antioxidant protection offered by vitamin C.
Herbal Magic Vitamin D Herbal Magic also carries a vitamin D supplement that offers 1000 IU
per tablet, making it the perfect choice for individuals looking to
supplement with higher vitamin D content. Vitamin D supplementation at
1000 IU per day is the appropriate dosage recommended by the Canadian
Cancer Society to prevent cancer. Furthermore, this dosage was found to be
important in increasing life expectancy by a few years when compared to
those individuals who did not take vitamin D. This study, published in the
Archives of Internal Medicine, is one of the latest to indicate
that this “sunshine vitamin” is good for more than strengthening the
bones. The Canadian Paediatric Society released guidelines for pregnant
and nursing mothers to include vitamin D supplementation at 2000 IU per
day to reduce chances of the child developing multiple sclerosis,
diabetes, and cancer later in life. Herbal Magic Vitamin D provides an
easy-to-absorb, effective amount of vitamin D3 for proper immune system
function, disease prevention, and the maintenance of adequate calcium
levels in the body. Incorporate Herbal Magic Cal-6 + Mag Tab and Herbal Magic Vitamin D into your daily regimen and start to reap their health benefits today! The following chart depicts the specific daily requirements from all sources of calcium and vitamin D as outlined by the Osteoporosis Society of Canada.
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