Calcium
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. Primarily found in bones and teeth, calcium is also involved in muscle contraction, secretion of hormones and enzymes, and sending messages through the central nervous system (Office of Dietary Supplements Fact Sheet)
How much calcium do you need? The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Guide Pyramid recommends that individuals 2 years and older eat two to three servings of dairy products per day. One serving is equal to:
1 cup (8 fl. oz.) of milk
8 oz. of yogurt
1.5 oz. of natural cheese (such as cheddar)
2 oz. of processed cheese (such as American)
(medicinenet.com
Is there a calcium – weight loss connection?
Maybe. Boosting calcium consumption spurs weight loss, according to a study published in the most recent issue of the British Journal of Nutrition, but only in people whose diets are calcium deficient.
“Our hypothesis is that the brain can detect the lack of calcium and seeks to compensate by spurring food intake, which obviously works against the goals of any weight loss program,” said Angelo Tremblay, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Environment and Energy Balance. “Sufficient calcium intake seems to stifle the desire to eat more,” he added.
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