Calcium is used in the Women’s Formula of the CardioTrim health supplement line.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. The average adult has about 2 to 3 pounds of calcium in their body, with about 99% in the bones and teeth. The remaining 1% of body calcium resides in the blood and within cells, where calcium helps with dozens of metabolic processes. This 1% of calcium is so important to maintain that the body will draw on calcium stores in the bones – even at the expense of causing osteoporosis – to keep blood and cellular calcium levels within the proper range. Good dietary sources of calcium include all dairy products and several vegetables such as broccoli, bok choy, nuts and seeds, legumes, seafood (oysters and shrimp) and fortified products like orange juice and bread. A cup of milk contains about 300mg of calcium.

More than 99% of your body’s calcium is stored in your bones, where it serves both a structural and physiological role. The most obvious need for calcium is to help build and maintain strong bones, but calcium is also important for blood clotting, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and maintenance of normal blood pressure.

For decades, we have known about the important role that calcium plays in achieving and maintaining strong bones -and helping to prevent osteoporosis. More recent research, much of it conducted over the past 5 years, has suggested a number of other beneficial health effects of getting adequate calcium in the diet. There is also some evidence that calcium supplements may be helpful in reducing the risk of colon cancer, regulating heart rhythms and treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Additional functions in which calcium plays a role include:

• Transmission of nerve impulses and control of muscle contractions
• Release of chemical messengers for communication between nerves
• Chemical signaling between cells
• Enzyme production and activity
• Regulation of digestion, fat metabolism, and energy production
• Hormone secretion and regulation
• Blood clotting
• Wound healing