How to supplement calcium

Calcium is an essential substance for the human body. The human body's bones, teeth, etc. are composed of calcium. Calcium deficiency in the human body will cause decreased immunity, lack of energy, and frequent lack of energy. During pregnancy, women will lose a lot of calcium in their bodies because of the fetus. At this time, you need to take in a lot of calcium. So how can you supplement calcium during pregnancy? Let’s take a look at it together.

During pregnancy, women lose a lot of calcium in their bodies because all the calcium needed for fetal development comes from the mother. That is to say, a considerable part of the existing calcium in the pregnant woman's body will enter the baby's body. If pregnant women do not take in enough calcium, it will have a greater impact on the fetus and the pregnant woman herself. In cases of mild calcium deficiency, the body will mobilize calcium from the mother's bones to maintain normal blood calcium levels. When calcium deficiency is severe, pregnant women may experience leg cramps and even osteomalacia. Maternal calcium deficiency can also have an adverse effect on the growth and development of the fetus, making it prone to abnormalities such as skull softening, wide sutures, and abnormal fontanelle closure after birth.

One is food supplement. Starting with a balanced diet is not only the safest and most reasonable way to supplement calcium, but also more easily accepted by people. Pregnant women can eat more calcium-rich foods, such as milk and dairy products, animal liver, eggs, beans, nuts, dried shrimps, sesame paste, seaweed, seafood, hawthorn and some green vegetables. However, you should pay attention to your diet to prevent calcium from combining with phytic acid and oxalic acid in certain foods to form insoluble calcium salts, which will prevent the calcium from being fully absorbed and utilized. Foods rich in phytic acid and oxalic acid include spinach, bamboo shoots, etc. Therefore, do not cook these vegetables with calcium-rich foods.

The second is medicinal supplements. If food cannot meet the body's needs, you can take calcium supplements under the guidance of a doctor. Currently, the common calcium supplement products and calcium contents in China are: calcium carbonate 40%, calcium chloride 27%, calcium bicarbonate 23%, calcium citrate 21%, calcium lactate 13%, and calcium gluconate 9%. Generally speaking, there are two ways to indicate the calcium content in calcium preparations: one is the amount of calcium compounds; the other is the amount of calcium elements. When purchasing calcium products, pay attention to the calcium content calculated as elemental calcium indicated on the product packaging. However, it is one-sided to use calcium content alone as the criterion for selecting calcium products. We must also consider its solubility, absorption and utilization, price, taste, etc. For example, vitamin D is one of the most important regulators of calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Therefore, an appropriate amount of vitamin D should be added to calcium tablets to increase calcium absorption. But be careful not to drink tea or take it with tea immediately after taking calcium tablets. In addition, pregnant women should take calcium supplements in moderation. Excessive calcium intake will affect the absorption of other nutrients such as iron, which can cause constipation and hypercalcemia in pregnant women, and even lead to stones.