Calcium
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, essential to life itself, with 99 percent of calcium found in bones and teeth.
Calcium is vital for bone health, but in addition to building strong bones, calcium is essential for normal heartbeat, muscle contraction and relaxation, transmission of nerve impulses, stimulation of hormone secretion, activation of enzyme reactions and for coagulation of the blood.
Most Americans think they are getting enough calcium everyday, the fact is, they are not — they're calcium deficient. Calcium deficiency is usually due to an inadequate intake of calcium. When blood calcium levels drop too low, this vital mineral is "borrowed" from the bones. It is returned to the bones from calcium supplied through the diet. The average person loses 400 to 500 mg of calcium per day. If an individual’s diet is low in calcium, there may not be sufficient amounts of calcium available in the blood to be returned to the bones to maintain strong bones and total body health.