Young
girls increasingly deficient in calcium, which can cause many health issues at
a young age
New Delhi, 16 July
2017: According to a recent study, calcium
deficiency in women is becoming a prevalent problem in both rural and urban
India. This can be blamed on the changing dietary habits, particularly in urban
Indians, which has undergone a major change in the last few decades. As per the
IMA, people are increasingly relying on processed and packaged foods and
consequently, their intake of whole foods has gone down by a major proportion.
About 20% of adolescent girls
in the age group of 14 to 17 suffer from calcium deficiency, according to
statistics. About 70% of our bone weight is due to calcium phosphate crystals,
the reason why calcium is the most important nutrient for good bone health.
Women need more calcium than men as they are more prone to bone health problems
with age.
Speaking about this, Padma Shri
Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA)
and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary
Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, “Our body
requires vitamin D to absorb calcium efficiently. In people with vitamin D
deficiency, the chances of a calcium deficiency are more even if they their
calcium intake is not low. This is because the body is unable to absorb the
calcium from your food. Vitamin D is responsible for regulating the amount of calcium
in the blood. Sufficient intake of Vitamin D not only helps improve calcium
absorption but also helps in decreasing bone loss, lowers the risk of
fractures, and helps prevent osteoporosis. Deficiency of calcium can cause many
problems such as: issues with blood clotting, blood pressure, and heart rhythm,
delayed development in children, and overall weakness and fatigue.”
Young girls have a higher
requirement of calcium when compared to older women. Girls in the age group of
9 to 18 require 1300 mg of calcium, while those in the age group of 19 to 50
require 1000 mg of calcium. Those above the age of 50 need 1200 mg.
Adding further, Dr
Aggarwal, said, “Many people resort to calcium supplements sometimes even
without consulting a doctor. Supplemental calcium is safe for cardiovascular
health if consumed in recommended amounts. However, dietary calcium should be
recommended over supplements. Calcium intake over the recommended dietary
allowance is not better than intakes that just meet the allowance.”
Here are some ways you can
boost your calcium intake naturally.
· Eat
foods high in calcium every day.
· Drink
low-fat or fat-free milk to boost your calcium consumption without adding too
much fat to your diet. Other dairy products that contain calcium are yogurt and
cheese; again, choose varieties that are low in fat.
· Eat
more leafy greens, especially kale, collard greens and dark green lettuce, and
green herbs such as basil, parsley and dill.
· Sardines
and salmon are good sources of calcium, as are oats and black, pinto and kidney
beans.
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