Why Children Need Calcium

Every fountain wants their children to grow up strong and healthy. That is why a child’ s diet is so important during their growing stages. In this busy day and age, children usually do not get the amount of nutrients they need every day or are too picky to eat all the healthy foods. During tender age and awkward age stages, the body uses calcium to build strong bones. Calcium is one nutrient kids cannot arrange to skip.

Calcium plays an important role not only in building strong and healthy bones, but also in muscle contraction, transmitting messages through he nerves and the release of hormones. Low calcium levels in the blood will force calcium to be taken away from the bones to make safe ordinary cell function. Ergo this increases the risk of rickets, a bone softening disease that causes poor growth, muscle pain and weakness and severe bowing of the legs.

However, more than 85 % of girls and 60 % of boys ages 9 - 18 fail to get their recommended 1, 300 milligrams of calcium a day. Drinking soda, caffeinated beverages, smoking and drinking alcohol will affect how the body absorbs calcium. A good way to ensure your child gets enough calcium and Vitamin D in their diet is by taking Calcium supplements. Most calcium supplements come fortified with Vitamin D. Vitamin D is also very important to the body due to it helps with the body’ s bag with calcium.

The American Academy of Pediatrics champion that children who are:

1 – 3 age ancient: 500 milligrams of calcium daily ( approx 2 servings of milk )

4 – 8 dotage mature: 800 milligrams of calcium daily ( approx 3 servings of milk )

9 – 18 caducity decrepit: 1, 300 milligrams of calcium daily ( approx 4 servings of milk )

Foods that are good sources of calcium incorporate:

* low fat plain yogurt: 300 - 450mg per moving ( 1 cup )

* american cheese: 350mg per potent ( 2 oz )

* cow ' s milk ( either whole milk or low fat milk ): 300mg per active ( 1 cup )

* calcium fortified soy milk, rice milk, or goat ' s milk: 300mg per compelling ( 1 cup )

* calcium fortified orange juice: 300mg per serving ( 1 cup )

* cheddar cheese: 300mg per practical ( 1.

5 oz )

* cooked dried white bill: 161mg per direct ( 1 oz )

* dried figs: 169mg per telling ( 10 figs )

* spinach: 120mg per effective ( 1 cup raw or 1 / 2 cup cooked )

* softhearted proffer ice blessing: 118mg per practical ( 1 / 2 cup )

* oranges: 50mg per competent ( 1 reinforcement orange )

* instant neutral: 100mg ( 1 combination )

* syrupy potatoes: 44mg per play hardball ( 1 / 2 cup mashed )

* broccoli: 35mg per adequate ( 1 1 / 2 cup raw or 1 / 2 cup cooked )

Any of these foods mentioned considerable or meals that contain these foods are good ways to get calcium. However, if your child is picky and do not like milk, cheese, or yogurt, calcium supplements are an easy way to give them the nutrients they need. Taking multivitamin pills give only limited amounts of calcium, not enough to fulfill the daily requirements. Two good children’ s vitamins and supplements websites are www. buychildrensvitamins. com and www. buykidsvitamins. com. They sell a many-sidedness of multivitamins and also specific vitamins and supplements catered to your child’ s needs. They also have a Learning Hub page that includes healthy tips, facts and articles about children’ s health.

Resources used:

http: / / kidshealth. org / author / nutrition_fit / nutrition / calcium. html

http: / / pediatrics. about. com / od / calcium / a / 05_calcium_req. htm