Health-and-Nutrition/C2/Importance-of-Calcium/English
| Title Slide | Welcome to the spoken tutorial on the importance of calcium. |
| Image: Collage of benefits of calcium
Image: Calcium requirements during different age groups Image: Collage of symptoms of calcium deficiency Image: Collage of food sources of Calcium |
In this tutorial, we will learn about:
1. Role of calcium and its requirement in our body. 2. Symptoms of its deficiency and 3. Calcium rich food sources. |
| Image: Calcium symbol and sources
Image: Bones and teeth Image: Calcium in blood Image: Excretion through urine, stool, sweat |
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in our body.
99% of the body’s calcium is found in bones and teeth. The remaining 1% is present in our blood. It gets excreted from our body through stool, urine and sweat. |
| Image: Healthy bones and Bone strength
GIF: Transfer of Calcium from blood to bone GIF: Transfer of Calcium from bone to blood |
Calcium serves many functions in our body.
The key function is the development and maintenance of bones. If there is an excess of calcium in the body, it gets deposited in the bones. In case of deficiency, it can be taken from the bones. |
| Image: Nerve impulse transfer
GIF: muscle contraction and relaxation |
Calcium is essential for the transfer of nerve signals in our body.
It helps in muscle contraction and its movement. |
| Image: Clotting of blood
Image: Secretion of hormones Image: Weight maintenance Image: Maintenance of blood pressure Image: Heart health |
It also helps in stopping the blood flow after a cut.
Calcium is needed for the secretion of hormones like insulin and adrenaline. Other benefits are maintaining body weight, blood pressure and heart health. |
| Image: Different age groups
Image: Childhood Image: Adolescence Image: Calcium recommendations for infants Image: Calcium recommendations for children Image: Calcium recommendations for adolescence Image: Calcium recommendations for adults
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Daily recommended intake for calcium varies for different age groups.
It is higher during periods of rapid growth such as childhood and adolescence. For Infants until 12 months, 500 milligrams of calcium per day is recommended. For children up to 9 years, 600 milligrams per day is recommended. The requirements increase up to 800 milligrams per day during adolescence. For adults, it is 600 milligrams per day. |
| Image: Pregnant and lactation
Image: Calcium recommendations for pregnant and lactating women |
The calcium requirements are also high during pregnancy and lactation.
During pregnancy and lactation, 1,200 milligrams is recommended. |
| Image: Collage of symptoms of calcium deficiency
Image: calcium in pregnant woman Image: Rise in blood pressure Image: Swollen hands and feet |
Let us now discuss the effects of calcium deficiency.
Deficiency of calcium during pregnancy can result in a rise in blood pressure. Swelling in hands and feet can be seen. |
| Image: Inadequate calcium intake
GIF: calcium transfer to the baby from mother Image: Low birth weight of baby Image: Impaired cognitive and physical development |
Inadequate calcium intake by mothers may affect the baby also.
Their birth weight may be low and their growth can be retarded. Their physical and cognitive development can be damaged. |
| Image: Collage of symptoms of rickets
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In children, calcium deficiency can cause rickets.
Rickets is a disorder of the skeletal system. The growth gets stunted and there are changes in the shape of the spine. Other signs are sunken ribs, protruding forehead and bow shaped bent legs. Short height, widening of the wrist, elbow, knee and ankle joints can be seen. |
| Image: Cramps
Image: Numbness in fingers Image: Mental confusion and irritation Image: Dry skin Image: Brittle nails Image: Tooth decay |
In adults, early signs of calcium deficiency are muscle cramps.
Numbness or tingling sensation of fingers is also seen. Mental confusion, irritability, dry skin, brittle nails and tooth decay can also occur. |
| Image: Osteoporosis
Image: Reduction in bone density Image: Fractures Image: Stoop posture Image: Back pain |
Long term deficiency of calcium can result in osteoporosis.
In osteoporosis, the bone density is reduced. The bones become fragile and prone to fractures. Other symptoms are stooped posture, loss of height and back pain. |
| Image: Woman and man
Image: Decrease in estrogen levels in women GIF: Decreased Calcium absorption Image: Increased Calcium excretion |
The risk of osteoporosis is higher in women as compared to men.
This is because estrogen levels in women decrease after menopause. Thereby, calcium absorption decreases and its excretion through urine increases. |
| Image: Collage of calcium rich food | To avoid calcium deficiency, adequate intake of calcium rich food is essential.
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| Image: Collage of daily products
GIF: Calcium getting absorbed Image: Calcium content in milk Image: Calcium content in curd Image: Calcium content in paneer
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The best sources are milk and milk products.
This includes curd, paneer (unsalted indian cheese), cheese and khoa (thickened whole milk). Calcium obtained from them gets easily absorbed in our body. 200 millilitre of cow’s milk provides 236 milligrams of calcium. 100 grams of curd from cow’s milk has 150 milligrams calcium. 30 grams of paneer from cow’s milk has 142 milligrams calcium.
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| Image: Collage of shrimp, bombay duck, prawns, lobsters, dried bony fish
Image: Calcium content in prawns Image: Calcium content in dried shrimp Image: Calcium content in dried bombay duck fish
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Few non-vegetarian food are also rich in calcium.
For example: dried shrimp, bombay duck, prawns, lobsters and dried bony fishes. 100 grams of prawns will give 67 milligrams of calcium. 20 grams of dried shrimp has 73 milligrams of calcium. 15 grams of dried bombay duck fish has 208 milligrams of calcium.
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| Image: Collage of seeds
Image: sesame seeds Image: niger seeds Image: flax seeds Image: dill seeds Image: poppy seeds Image: Calcium content in sesame seeds Image: Collage of almonds and walnuts
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Seeds are an excellent source of calcium.
For example: sesame seeds, niger seeds, flax seeds, dill seeds and poppy seeds. 1 tablespoon or 5 grams of sesame seeds has about 64 milligrams of calcium. Apart from these, nuts like almonds and walnuts are also rich in calcium. |
| Image: Collage of green leafy vegetables
Image: Calcium content in amaranth leaves Image: Calcium content in fenugreek leaves |
Many green leafy vegetables have good amount of calcium.
For example: leaves of amaranth, agathi, drumstick and fenugreek. Even radish leaves, colocasia leaves and mustard leaves are good sources. 100 grams of amaranth leaves has 330 milligrams of calcium. 100 grams of fenugreek leaves has 274 milligrams of calcium. |
| Image: Collage of soybean, horse gram, moth beans
Image: Calcium content in horsegram Image: Finger millet Image: Calcium content in finger millet |
Calcium is present in some beans like soybean, horse gram and moth beans.
50 grams of horse gram gives 135 milligrams of calcium. Finger millet is also a rich source of calcium. 30 grams of finger millet provides 110 milligrams of calcium. |
| GIF: Calcium absorption
GIF: Inhibition of calcium absorption Image: Nuts Image: Seeds Image: Green leafy vegetables GIF: Inhibition of calcium absorption Image: Calcium not getting absorbed |
Along with food intake, calcium absorption is equally important.
Presence of oxalates, phytates and fiber affect calcium absorption. They are present in nuts, seeds, beans, and green leafy vegetables. These substances may bind with calcium to form an insoluble complex. As a result, calcium absorption in the body is inhibited. |
| Image: Collage of different cooking techniques
Image: Soaking Image: Sprouting Image: Boiling Image: Roasting Image: Fermentation |
The absorption can be enhanced by using various cooking techniques.
For example: soaking, sprouting, boiling, roasting and fermentation. |
| Image: Tea
Image: Coffee Image: Cola Image: Tea coffe and cola not to be had with calcium rich food Image: Collage of tea, coffee and cola |
For calcium absorption, avoid tea, coffee and cola with calcium rich food.
They contain caffeine which enhances calcium excretion through urine. |
| Image: Different nutrients symbols and sources
Image: vitamin D Image: magnesium Image: potassium Image: phosphorus |
For maximum calcium absorption, few other nutrients are required.
For example: vitamin D, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus. |
| Image: Playing
Image: Exercise Image: Bones in the body |
Apart from nutrients, adequate physical activity and exercise are also required.
This will enhance the bone mass and bone strength. |
| Image: Individuals of different age group
Image: Infancy and childhood Image: Adulthood and old age |
In addition to all this, age also influences calcium absorption.
It is highest during infancy and childhood. During adulthood, absorption is moderate and then it decreases with age. |
| Image: Calcium sources and childhood | Therefore, adequate intake of calcium rich food from an early age is essential. |
| Acknowledgement Slide | This brings us to the end of the tutorial.
Thank you for joining. |
