Written by Emily Alaniz
You know how they say young people
think they’re invincible? Yeah, I never had that problem. I always looked both
ways before crossing the street. I flossed my teeth every night. I got eight
hours of sleep, no matter what.
So you get the picture: I was
worried (and maybe a little paranoid) when it came to my health. But I took all
the right precautions, so I felt like I probably had things under control.
Your body uses calcium for blood
clotting, nerve conduction, cell division, and other important functions.
Then, when I was in college, I took
a bone-density test, just because it was offered for free at my school. I
figured I had nothing to worry about, because I was pretty young.
But when I took the test, I got a
score of -1.2, which the nurse told me was a sign of osteopenia. This is a
condition that can lead to osteoporosis later in life.
Needless to say, I freaked right
out. In my mind, this meant my bones were dissolving and I’d be a big floppy
noodle by the time I was 30.
This was when I started taking my
bones a little more seriously. But I was confused — I thought I already ate
plenty of calcium-rich foods, so why weren’t my bones super strong?
I learned that your body uses
calcium for blood clotting, nerve conduction, cell division, and other
important functions. In fact, calcium is so vital that if the body doesn’t
receive enough from your diet, it will start pulling it from your bones — which
was probably the problem I was having in college. (Well, one of many problems,
but that’s another story.)
Leafy greens such as kale can be a
good source of calcium.
The
Best Sources
When people talk about calcium, they
usually talk about dairy products. But dairy is often loaded with saturated
fat, which you probably don’t want for a number of reasons. Don’t be
discouraged though — it turns out that dairy isn’t the only way to get your
daily dose of calcium.
I was surprised to learn that some
great sources of calcium are actually fresh vegetables, including leafy greens
such as spinach, kale, and collards.
Certain types of fish can be good
sources — canned sardines and salmon, for example. Many foods are fortified
with calcium, such as certain breakfast cereals and some juices.
Necessary
Nutrients
Tired of kale? Turn to USANA’s
Active Calcium or Active Calcium Chewable.
If you aren’t getting enough calcium
in your diet (and let’s face it, kale is in right now, but I can’t eat it every
day), you should look for a quality calcium supplement such as Active Calcium™ or Active Calcium™ Chewable.
These supplements include plenty of
vitamin D, which promotes calcium absorption and helps build strong bones.
Both of these supplements also
contain magnesium, an essential nutrient that plays a key role in the bone
remodeling process. In addition, it helps in the development and maintenance of
bones and teeth — so it’s pretty obvious why USANA included it in these two
bone-building supplements.
Active Calcium also comes complete
with vitamin K, which influences the rate of mineralization of the bone matrix.
Overall, it’s good news for your bones.
After I did my research, I started
doing some weight bearing and resistance training, walking every day, eating
green salads, and taking calcium supplements.
Unfortunately, I didn’t know about
USANA back then, but now that I do, I keep a bottle of Active Calcium Chewable
at my desk so I’ll remember to take the recommended four tablets every day.
I know my bones aren’t invincible,
so I better take care of them.
Sources:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/calcium-and-milk/
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/calcium-vitamin-d-foods
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/calcium-and-milk/
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/calcium-vitamin-d-foods
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/
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