Dairy Products: An Important Source of Calcium Essay -- Exploratory E

Dairy Products: An Important Source of Calcium Out of the sources of calcium available, dairy products most aptly provide the necessary calcium with the least amount of side effects. Using dairy products as a calcium source cuts out the need to research which type of calcium is being supplied because all dairy products contain elemental calcium (Got Calcium?). A benefit of elemental calcium is an increased ability to gauge how much calcium is being absorbed (Calcium Supplemental Guidelines). This is because the elemental calcium in dairy products is more easily absorbed (Got Calcium?) Dairy products’ calcium is also less susceptible to complications with other ingested substances such as food or medications (National Osteoporosis Foundation). Removing these possible complications also removes some of the concern of short-term health risks associated with calcium. Studies have also indicated that elemental calcium does not increase some long-term health risks as calcium citrate or calcium carbonate (which are both fo und in calcium supplement pills) might (Harvard School of Public Health). All of these benefits make dairy products a safe and reasonable choice for supplying calcium needs. There are many types of calcium available, and with all of them a certain amount should be ingested each day. Though calcium requirements vary by age and gender, the average person needs about 1000 mg of calcium a day (Nutrition). This helps to keep up with bone growth and repair, and keep up with the loss of calcium through shed materials (National Osteoporosis Foundation). Without continually resupplying the body with calcium severe health problems can ensue (National Osteoporosis Foundation). This resupplying can be done usi... ...without an abundance of time to carefully watch calcium intake and calcium safety, dairy provides the best option. It is a reliable source that can be easily attained without much variation and will dependably be ingested. Works Cited Calcium Supplement Guidelines http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/health/az1296.html Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Calcium http://ods.od.nih.gov Got Calcium? http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/yf/foods/fn587.pdf. Harvard School of Public Health http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/calcium.html National Osteoporosis Foundation http://www.nof.org/prevention/calcium_supplements.html Perchlorate Material Safety Data Sheet http://msds.pdc.cornell.edu/msds/MSDSDOD/A264/M131746.htm#Section11 Tests on milk, lettuce find perchlorate is widespread http://www.sacbee.com/content/businass/story/1161626231p-1250598