Why women should bone up on calcium
Manila, Philippines - As women age, health becomes a more important concern. In addition to eating a balanced diet, getting at least eight hours of sleep and exercising every day, it is equally important for women to supplement with vitamins and minerals daily — including getting the recommended dose of calcium to maintain optimum bone health.
“Women, due to their skeletal frame and bone mass, are more prone to osteopenia, or thinning of the bones, than men — which may then lead to osteoporosis, or weakening of the bones,” Dr. Eliseo Banaynal, medical director of Pascual Consumer Healthcare Corp. (PCHC), points out. “Thus, propping up calcium stores early on in life and reducing calcium loss later on are important.”
Dr. Banaynal explains that while it is true that vitamins and minerals can be sourced from the food that we eat, supplementation must also be practiced. “We live in a world where toxins from pesticides, cigarette smoke, factory and automobile emissions, and non-degradable plastic s, among many others, seep into our homes and collect in our food,” he laments. “Soil depletion due to non-sustainable farming practices has reduced soil fertility, which in turn has reduced the amount of vitamins and minerals we get from the food we eat.” He notes it also does not help that many of us have a penchant for fast foods “which could be unhealthy.”
Dr. Banaynal says it all begins with eating right. Women in particular must “strive to avoid anything non-beneficial as much as they can. Avoid caffeinated, carbonated drinks, and food made from processed carbohydrates such as those with high levels of refined sugar. Drink six to eight glasses of pure clear water daily. And of course, supplement daily with vitamins and minerals —including the right amount of calcium for healthy bones. ” He added that calcium supplementation is particularly important because, aside from our bones and teeth, “calcium is required for vascular contraction and vasodilation, muscle function, nerve transmission, intracellular signaling, and hormonal secretion.”
However, the mere thought of big tablets that are a struggle to swallow, or the hassle of preparing a calcium drink makes women re-think (or worse, dismiss) the wisdom of calcium supplementation. Good thing that women can now start looking at calcium in a new light, thanks to the recently launched CalChews, a breakthrough supplement that gives women their daily dose of calcium in the perfect form and function they need. Not only does CalChews come in two soft and chewy candy flavors (Rich Chocolate and Creamy Caramel), it is also fortified with equally essential vitamins D and K for optimum bone health.
Aside from its 500 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D3, CalChews also contains 40mcg of vitamin K, claimed by some studies to keep calcium in the bones where it should be, while reducing the risk of calcium deposits in the arteries and soft tissues — thus circumventing severe consequences such as stroke and heart attack.
