Most Americans do not get enough calcium in their diets; the average daily intake is 500 milligrams shy of the RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) of 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams.
Gastric bypass patients are even more unlikely to intake adequate dietary calcium and without supplementation they may become calcium deficient which ultimately results in osteoporosis. Weight loss surgery patients are limited by the volume of calcium rich foods they may consume. In addition, the malabsorption issue resulting from gastric bypass presents another problem. Since the bowel does not readily absorb calcium and the stomach is drastically shortened there is limited opportunity for the calcium to be absorbed in the body.
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body ? we have two or three pounds of it, most of which is located in the bones and teeth. In addition to building bones and teeth, calcium is an electrolyte required for transmitting nerve signals, water balance, acid/alkaline balance and maintaining osmotic pressure. It helps the blood to clot and is necessary for the heart muscle function. It's long been known that calcium will aid in the prevention of osteoporosis, but new studies are identifying calcium for it's anticancer actions within the colon.
Most dietary calcium comes from dairy products but can also be found in sardines, canned salmon, green leafy vegetables and tofu. The National Academy of Sciences has raised the calcium guideline to 1,000 milligrams a day for people under 51, and to 1,200-1,500 milligrams a day for people over 51.
Gastric bypass patients can do three things to better assimilate calcium in the body:
First, take a chewable calcium supplement twice daily.
Second, exercise consistently.
Third, enjoy sunshine every day.
Chewable supplements taken twice daily will more rapidly dissolve and assimilate into the body than hard pills. They should be 500 milligrams each; the body cannot absorb more than 500 milligrams at a time. The best supplements are calcium citrate, calcium carbonate and calcium lactate.
Next, studies show that people who exercise regularly better assimilate calcium into the body than sedentary individuals. Even though US Astronauts take calcium supplements in orbit, they return to Earth calcium deficient; NASA believes lack of physical activity prevents their bodies from assimilating the calcium.
Finally, get some sunshine. Twenty minutes a day of direct or indirect sunlight will give the body plenty of natural vitamin D, the "sunshine vitamin", which is necessary for calcium assimilation.
Doing these three things will make you feel great today and will contribute to healthier aging. Osteoporosis is an epidemic in this country and is directly attributed to calcium deficiency. We all know that when an elderly person falls and breaks a hip death is imminent. Osteoporosis is nearly always the reason why hipbones break when older people fall. In the case of osteoporosis there is nothing the body can do to defend itself from the loss of calcium associated with aging. Supplementation is necessary throughout adulthood to prevent chronic calcium deficiency.
Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.com
Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.
To subscribe to the LivingAfterWLS monthly newsletter "You Have Arrived" click on http://www.livingafterwls.com and enter your details in the subscription box.
efficient cleaning crew Lake Forest ..Your brain has this really interesting system that is kind... Read More
Steady gains made in improvement in life expectancy may be... Read More
How to Break Your PlateauToday is a typical morning like... Read More
If You are sick of losing the same weight over... Read More
There is never any absolute certainty about what the nutritional... Read More
ATTITUDESIT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!Exercising has so many physical benefits that... Read More
Are you concerned about the lack of exercise your child... Read More
With obesity and disease increasing dramatically, many fitness experts are... Read More
Calorie burn can be really enhanced if you follow a... Read More
Are you committed to losing weight and keeping it off?... Read More
You may not like what I'm about to say, but... Read More
What is the best form of physical activity?The best form... Read More
When most people think of low carb diets they automatically... Read More
With summer completed and school back in session, it'll be... Read More
If only there were a 'better body boot camp', we'd... Read More
In order to lose weight, your body must burn more... Read More
If winter hibernation tends to pack on the pounds, take... Read More
Have you ever wondered where destiny would lead you? Have... Read More
A little information if often a dangerous thing... and many... Read More
Hot dang! If a few hundred other folks can peddle... Read More
Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started,... Read More
Plan to eat two to three hours and pack health... Read More
Your Non-Conscious Mind is 98% of your full power.Your Inner... Read More
One of the greatest tricks that I use to stick... Read More
Considering the US Center for Disease Control's advice is a... Read More
green cleaning service Deerfield ..Diet and Exercise. They are the inseparable twins that are... Read More
Who'd have thought healthy eating could be so controversial? Lunching... Read More
I want to talk to you about cows and what... Read More
It's now official. The simple act of fidgeting can mean... Read More
When you're taking Phentermine, you should go to the emergency... Read More
Trash Your TV! is pleased to announce the easiest weight... Read More
Everyone has their own individual reason for joining a health... Read More
Weight Loss and Water: A Way to Make Your Body... Read More
If you are losing, trying to lose, or think you... Read More
You're always hungry right? The last thing you have time... Read More
Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) is often viewed as a quick... Read More
Weight loss is a hot topic among people today, especially... Read More
Dieting and Exercising ? Results all the time!To be successful... Read More
You are not a kid any more and becoming a... Read More
Not only was I fat, I was in poor health... Read More
Understanding the theory of adaptation (see previous article, Adaptation I)... Read More
MYTH: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.FACT: Fad diets... Read More
Although liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic... Read More
Are you or your family members amongst the 65%?To help... Read More
Well, with the success of my article, "Wrinkle Remover That... Read More
Most men and women that I have trained over the... Read More
Now I know you're always asking yourself questions.You know the... Read More
If you have been watching your weight all year, you... Read More
If you've been working out with weights for any length... Read More
I am not a diet and fitness guru or an... Read More
Weight Loss |