Why Calcium is important for your body

Calcium at a glance

  • Daily requirement

    Adults: 800 mg. Increased requirement for adults over 50 years of age, pregnant and breast-feeding women: up to 1,200 mg.

  • Definition

    Calcium is a mineral and its chemical designation is Ca2+. It must be consumed daily as the body cannot produce it.

  • Need to know

    Calcium is quantitatively the most represented mineral in the body. 99% of calcium is stored in bones and teeth (approx. 1 kg).

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The significance of calcium

All minerals play important roles in your body. However, calcium has several particularly important roles. 99 percent of calcium (approx. 1kg) is stored in your skeleton – it is quantitatively the most important mineral in your bones and teeth enamel.

Our bodies are not able to produce the mineral nutrients we need, which is why it's necessary for us to obtain them from our food and beverages. Mineral Water contains mineral nutrients like calcium in a dissolved form - this increases its bioavailability, enabling our bodies to absorb and use this vital nutrient more readily.

Frau trinkt Mineralwasser aus Glas

Recommended daily requirement

Your body cannot produce calcium and so you need to consume it daily via food and beverages. For the average adult, the recommended daily calcium requirement is 800 mg per day. Children and adolescents need somewhat more while they are growing. Both pregnant and breast-feeding women also have a higher requirement. For these groups, a daily calcium intake of up to 1,200 mg is recommended. It is recommended that calcium intake should not exceed 1,500 mg of calcium per day.

Frau trinkt Mineralwasser aus Glas

Sources of calcium

In addition to mineral water, milk and dairy products in particular, but also several types of vegetables, such as broccoli, kale and fennel are considered to be good suppliers of calcium. These food products are, however, increasingly being neglected, deliberately avoided (too high fat content or due to the caloric content) or not tolerated (intolerance). The consequence: according to a national consumption study, the recommended daily intake is often not attained due to an unbalanced diet (Source: Max Rubner Institute (ed.), National Consumption Study II, Evaluation Report, Karlsruhe 2008

Your body absorbs more calcium when it is consumed in small amounts over time, so drinking mineral water throughout your day can increase your daily consumption. Another bonus is because mineral water’s nutrients are already dissolved; your body more readily absorbs them. Numerous studies have shown that the bioavailability of calcium from mineral water is just as good as that from milk. In fact, several studies indicate that mineral water is a better calcium source. Mineral water is an ideal source of calcium for those who are lactose intolerant and as mineral water is calorie-free, it is also ideal for those on a calorie-controlled diet

Four questions to the expert

Prof. Nicolai Worm shares his expertise and explains why you need calcium in your daily diet.
 
 

What is calcium?

How much calcium do I need daily?

How can I get enough calcium every day?

Why is Gerolsteiner such a good source of calcium?

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