 |
 |
 |
           |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
Calcium and Pregnancy
Studies show that most women do not get enough daily Calcium. And many pregnant women do not realize that the typical prenatal vitamin only contains 4-20% of the RDA of Calcium. Calcium is essential for strong teeth and bones, muscle contractions, nerve function and blood clotting. Calcium-deficiency results in decreased bone density (which in turn leads to osteoporosis and increased bone fracture risk), hypertension, preeclampsia, and increased cavities. There is also clinical evidence that correlates Calcium-deficiencies with preterm deliveries, low birth weight babies, high blood pressure in baby and cesarean sections. Our bodies cannot produce Calcium, therefore we must consume it. The Recommended Daily Allowance of Calcium for pregnant or, breastfeeding women, is 1,200 mg. Good sources of Calcium are listed on the bottom of this article. There is, however, much more to getting your daily allowance than just consuming 1,200 mg of calcium. There are many factors that contribute to how much calcium is actually absorbed by the body. For example; Vitamin D: Vitamin D facilitates calcium absorption into our bones. So you could consume all the calcium in the world, but with no vitamin D it won't do you any good. Contrary to calcium, our bodies produce vitamin D following exposure to sunlight. Fifteen minutes, two to three times a day is usually sufficient to produce the vitamin D we need. Natural food sources high in vitamin D are egg yolks, saltwater fish and liver. The RDA of vitamin D is 400 IU. Use caution though, extremely high doses can be harmful, even fatal. Do not exceed more than 800 IU unless recommended by your doctor. Timing: Your body can only absorb so much calcium at one time. For this reason, it is imperative to space out your calcium intake throughout the day. It is recommended that you do not intake more than 500 mg in one sitting. Elemental Calcium: Elemental calcium is the amount of calcium that your body can use. For example, a 500 mg calcium carbonate tablet contains 200 mg of elemental calcium, and a 500 mg calcium citrate tablet contains 105 mg elemental calcium. So be sure to look at the elemental calcium weight, not just the total weight. Another factor to look at is how well a supplement pill dissolves in a glass of warm water after 30 minutes. If it doesn't dissolve, this tells you it will also not absorb very well into your body. Avoid calcium supplements from unrefined oyster shell, bone meal, or dolomite without the USP (United States Pharmacopeia) symbol. They may contain high levels of lead or other toxic and potentially harmful metals. Also, people with shellfish allergies should not take coral calcium. It is important to consult with your doctor if you have certain medical conditions (i.e., thyroid disease, kidney disease, gallstones, lactose intolerance, or certain rare diseases), and check possible interactions with other over-the-counter or prescription medications. Also remember that too much of a good thing is not a good thing. Excessive intake of Calcium (over 2,500 mg daily) can lead to kidney stones. Calcium in any amount reduces the efficiency of several antibiotics and also reduces the absorption of many vitamins, especially iron. Food sources high in Calcium: Dairy: Vegetables: Beans: Other: Joy is the webmaster at http://www.babynamesetc.com - home of the free and unique baby name generator.
MORE RESOURCES:
Pregnancy - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Baby Shower Gift Ideas Selecting a present for a new mom or dad can be a challenging task. Baby showers are a great way to help support a new mother with her new baby. Early Signs of Pregnancy Think you may need to do a home pregnancy test? Pregnancy can be a life changing event. Here are some of the early signs of pregnancy to help you decide if it's time for that all important test:Often, your family will notice that you are irritable or moody before you even begin to suspect that you're pregnant. Smoking During Pregnancy If you have been drinking up until the point when you become pregnant or smoking it is also vital that you stop doing so immediately. Many women worry that they consumed a few alcoholic drinks prior to learning they were pregnant. How To Prepare For Natural Childbirth SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT BIRTH IS NATURAL, NORMAL AND HEALTHY.? A doula at the delivery has been proven to shorten labor, improve mother's satisfaction and reduce the need for pain medications. So You Think You're Pregnant? A Brief Discussion Of Common Pregnancy Symptoms A baby begins life even before he is born - from conception until the uterus finally pushes him out of his mother's body. This is the phenomenon we call pregnancy. Start Growing Healthy Children Before Getting Pregnant When I was in my early 20's, I read Adele Davis's book, "Let's Eat Right To Keep fit." I learned from her that "you are what you eat. Pregnancy Exercise One of the best things you can do to prepare for pregnancy is start exercising regularly. You don't have to join the Boston Marathon, but even walking around the block a few times per week will help tone and condition your body and help you prepare for the journey ahead. The Dos and Donts of Pregnancy With so many people giving their opinion on what to do and what not to do during pregnancy, it becomes hard to determine what is fact and what is fiction. Below is a list of some of the more important factors to consider in regards to pregnancy do's and dont's. Dealing With Common Pregnancy Complaints Pregnancy is not without its side effects. During pregnancy your body will undergo many hormonal changes. How to Lose Weight After Pregnancy Weight control is a prevalent concern for many women after pregnancy. Although common during pregnancy, weight gain is difficult for many women to handle emotionally. Just How Soon After Having A Baby Is It Realistic To Try And Fit Into Those Pre-Pregnancy Jeans? That depends, say the experts, on a number of things including how high your body mass index was before getting pregnant."Women with higher pre-pregnancy BMIs (BMI > 27) are at greater risk of higher weight retention at one year postpartum," says a Canadian government health agency. Piece of Mind During Pregnancy - It is Possible with Babysheart After four years of marriage my husband and I started to plan for our family. Unfortunately we ran into some fertility issues because of my endometriosis. Things You Should Avoid During Pregnancy Pregnancy is a time where you have to be careful with yourself. Many factors affect the development of a fetus into a healthy child. Being Pregnant Is Not a Hurdle to Enjoy A Little Romance Most of the time pregnant women are afraid to have a little romance. Probably they are afraid something could happen to their baby. Its Not A Sin For Pregnant Women To Have A Massage Getting pregnant is really a moment of joy. Don't get carried away with your morning sickness, or your hormone changing, keep your life going and treat yourself to a happy living. Expressing Breast Milk: Pumping for Your Preemie The shock and stress of having a baby born prematurely is difficult in and of itself to deal with. The frequent trips to the hospital are exhausting. What You Need To Know About Pregnancy And Tanning Booths If you are pregnant, there are things you should know about pregnancy and tanning booths. Tanning beds safety while pregnant has become very questionable. Is A Baby Allowed To Play In Its First Month? What should you do to have a happy pregnancy? Many things you could do, but what most pregnant women rarely do is having a vacation. Get a life and try to relax a little bit. Morbidly Obese and Suffering Pregnancy Complications? Consider Gastric Bypass Obese and morbidly obese women are more likely to have pregnancy complications and caesarean sections than women of average weight, according to a study published in the April 2004 American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The controlled study is one of the largest ever to look at obesity in pregnancy, following more than 16,000 pregnant women at 14 medical centers across the country. Moral Armor on Predational Pregnancy We constantly hear of crackdowns on "dead-beat dads," but the topic of how they often originate remains hidden and deserves serious light: Dead-beat Mothers.Imagine if a toy company put out a realistic product for Christmas that had kids screaming, "I want Baby-Waste Your Life! It comes with a work book and legal kit on how to lie, how to sue, how to apply for welfare, the various addictions I'll employ when it blows up in my face and all the excuses I'll need for why my life is not my responsibility!" Why are girls given dolls when we all know what a disaster a baby actually is for a young girl? Why are we shocked, when unprepared for constructive dreams, that is what they choose?Motherhood has always been played off as a moral symbol beyond reproach, so in panic, some women move straight for its cover.
|
 |