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Sunday, November 29, 2009

Benefits of Physical Fitness

I’ve been working out now for nigh ten years and it’s been a massive part of my life for all that time. When someone asks me why I work out, this tends to lead to epic rant that can last for hours. So you’re reading an article about the benefits of physical fitness written by it’s number one fan… prepare for an epic rant.

So just what are the benefits of physical fitness? What makes those hours and hours of gruelling work under the weights or on the tarmac worth it? Well it’s a long list. Physical fitness you see changes absolutely every aspect of your life, it makes you look and feel healthier, it makes you more capable, closer to your potential, it makes others stand up and take notice and it makes you feel confident and ready. Plus you can run a really long way or pick up lots of heavy things without getting out of breath.

When you see a guy or girl on TV in an advert or in one of those big budget dramas or films, chances are he or she has done a lot of work to get himself into that shape. He’s not Mr Universe, or Neil Armstrong, but without watching his diet and occasionally getting into the gym he would never have got the part. If you want to look desirable in order to sell something, you need to look healthy. Unfortunately, so backwards and mollycoddling is our society, that they then blame the media for making us feel insecure or insufficient. They blame the media for depression and for anorexia. But would you really be as likely to watch a movie where the hero was trying to pull a twenty stone woman? Would you be as likely to want an Omega if it was sponsored by Johnny Vegas instead of Bond?

There’s another solution – rather than complaining until the media is forced to hide the alternative to unhealthiness from us, why not do something about it and attain some kind of physical fitness yourself? When I watch an advert for Calvin klein, or see a cover of Men’s Health, I don’t feel inadequate – instead I find myself critiquing their physique. Good abs but the obliques could do with some work… they always forget the obliques! You see when you have good physical fitness yourself you can feel in with that crowd, proud and confident of your physique and start to feel successful and attractive as a result.

And then you will be able to sell things. I don’t mean you’ll be on TV selling underwear and Joop, but you’ll be able to sell yourself on a day to day basis. As you appear healthier you’ll instantly broadcast a healthy lifestyle and good genetics and people will want to hear from you – everything you say will be given extra credibility. It will help you in business, in romance and in your private life. You’ll be displaying to women that you’re better genetic material and to your boss or interviewer. Not only will you look healthier though, but you’ll act more confident as a result.

Confidence is a big benefit of physical fitness and a good physique will help you to appear more imposing just as you’ll begin standing with your chest puffed further out and lats spread more heroically. When you speak people will instantly pay more attention as it’s spoken from someone who has some physical authority in the room.

So being physically fit will drastically improve your confidence and get others to stand up and take notice of your success and health. It’ll help you progress you career and it’ll help you to attract members of the opposite sex. Really though, all these things are just side effects; the real benefits of physical fitness are in how it changes your body.

Firstly, increasing your physical fitness will prevent you from getting out of breath so easily. This will help you in a variety of tasks, enable you to walk and jog places without nearly keeling over, and will mean that you win all sorts of competitions and sports. Sick of being the weakest link in your five-a-side team? Improving your physical fitness will put an end to that. Furthermore, being physically fitter will lessen your chances of suffering from various unpleasant conditions including insomnia, diabetes, cholesterol and heart disease. If you’re overweight, or weedy and malnutritioned then you are at risk from a variety of life threatening ailments. On the flip side, benefits of physical fitness include stronger bones, better sleep, more energy, quicker reflexes, better immunity to disease, healthier skin and hair… your whole body will be transformed as you kick start it and propel it back into action.

Being stronger is also a great form of self defence which also gives you extra confidence. If you look weedy or overweight then you’ll be a target when you’re walking around the streets at night, but if you look like your made up of more muscle and have the fitness required to run then most muggers or trouble makers will move on to easier targets. Then if they do attack you you’ll be able to handle yourself far better – even if that just means running away and wearing them out. The same applies in pub brawls and if you’re younger, in the playground, and the sense of confidence it gives you makes training worth it on its own.

Working out doesn’t just improve your body though, there are also many psychological benefits of physical fitness. Firstly, exercise will improve your mood through the release of endorphins (responsible for the so-called ‘runner’s high’) that numb pain and leave you feeling euphoric and calm – they offer a great natural alternative to anti depressants or just a quick energy and mood boost. Similarly exercise stimulates the release of growth hormone and testosterone – both of which have many benefits (growth hormone repairs wounds and improves sleep while testosterone will increase your drive and determination). Testosterone even improves your sexual performance meaning everyone will notice the transformation if you work on your physical fitness.

As though that wasn’t enough, the benefits of physical fitness also extend to intelligence and regular cardiovascular activity has been shown to increase performance on IQ tasks. Furthermore recent studies have suggested that exercise stimulates neurogenesis (the birth of new brain cells) in the hippocampus (a part of the brain that’s largely responsible for memory). In other words then, working out will improve every aspect of yourself, you’ll have more energy, sex drive, sex, brain cells, strength, confidence, and skills. The benefits of physical fitness are in short all-encompassing.

More Benefits of Drinking Water

There are a multitude of health benefits of drinking ample amounts of water. Following are some of the visible benefits that you will see or feel after several weeks of drinking proper amounts of water.

1) Water is your extra weight's worst enemy. You will find that with appropriate water consumption, your weight and extra pounds will begin to shed. Many beverages that people consume throughout the day are high in calories and high in sugar. This includes soda, juice and alcoholic beverages. Water however, has no fat, calories, sugar or carbs, and will curb your thirst much more effectively than any other beverage. Therefore, with your calorie and fat intake reduced by water replacing those high calorie beverages, you will undoubtedly notice visible weight loss within several weeks. Another benefit of drinking ample amounts of water is that water will suppress your appetite, because water naturally fills your stomach.

2) It is a scientifically proven fact that drinking ample amounts of water lowers your risk of heart attacks. Statistics reveal that individuals who drink more than five to six glasses of water a day are 40% less likely to suffer from a heart related death. You can go by just how you feel when you drink more than five glasses of water per day. You will likely feel more energetic and you will find motivation to engage in more athletic activities than before. Your body needs water, and you will like the way your body feels when you are giving it what it needs.

3) Often times when people are feeling low energy levels, they resort to energy beverages to spike their energy levels. There are a lot of health concerns relating to these sorts of beverages, because in the long run they are not only detrimental to your health, but in the short run they also dehydrate you. The natural secret to spiking your energy level is to consume ample amounts of water. Dehydration will make you feel tired, even at the slightest level. If your body is dehydrated by just 1% of your body weight, you will likely feel fatigued and muscle weakness, and if you allow your body to consistently feel dehydrated, you will likely suffer from more serious symptoms such as dizziness. It may sound cliché, but there is truth in the saying that you must listen to your body. Your body will tell you when it needs water. Listen carefully because it is very likely that your body will not say that it needs a high fructose corn syrup based beverage. Drink water, and drink plenty of it.

4) If your health has been impacted to the degree that your body is suffering consistent headaches, you will find proper water consumption to curb that symptom. Chronic headaches are a symptom of dehydration. A simple solution is to drink ample amounts of water, and your headaches will likely curb themselves. This is not the only cause for chronic headaches, so if your headaches continue to persist then you should consult a medical professional to look into other possible causes. Dehydration however, is one of the most common causes of consistent headaches.

5) There are benefits to your skin when you drink enough water as well. Many people, who went from not drinking enough water to drinking plentiful water, have reported clearer skin and a healthy glow in their face. This is not an overnight effect, but it is very likely that after a month of drinking plentiful water you will begin seeing a difference in your skin.

As you can see there are plenty of health benefits of increasing your water consumption. Not only will this increase in water consumption help you lose weight, but it will also result in better maintenance of your overall health. In the following piece you will learn a few tricks to help your mind adjust to the new habit of drinking more water.

Important Tips for Good Health

Health is wealth. It is very well said. Without health nothing can be achieved, nothing can be enjoyed. Health is the most important aspect of ones life. If we have a sound health then we can have a sound life. An unhealthy body makes you feel deprived of energy, ill and despondent. It swaps all the confidence from a person. A healthy body gives strength, confidence and the energy to take up any challenge the life offers. A healthy and fit body can easily manage the day to day stresses. When all the functions and systems of the body are working well we conclude that a body is healthy.

Maintaining a good health is as important as breathing. If you have a poor health and you remain ill most of the time then this is a high time you start thinking about it. For maintaining a healthy life one has to change his daily routine. One has to start exercising and consuming a proper diet. The diet you take up really affects the kind of health you have. Exercising, meditation, yoga are many other options which can help you stay healthier.

Here are some tips for maintaining a healthy body:

1. Your breakfast should be high on fiber.

2. Consumption of tobacco and nicotine should be slowly reduced. Efforts should be made to stop consuming such products.

3. Regular exercising and a small walk after dinner can help you build a stronger stamina and a healthy body.

4. Food high on fat and oil has to be strictly avoided. Fat and oil increases the cholesterol level in the body.

5. It is always advised to consume fresh fruits and vegetables. These fulfil the body’s requirement of nutrients and roughage.

6. The accumulation of fat in the body is the main reason for obesity and other problems. It is therefore advised to walk after eating dinner.

7. Follow a diet which provides you nutrients in the required amount. This can really help you in staying fit. Thus a balanced diet is always recommended.

8. A balanced diet fulfills all the nutrients demand of the body.

9. Over exposure to the sun can cause sun burns, tanning and many other skin problems. So it is advised to use suns cream before stepping out of your home.

10. Always wear seat belts while driving. It reduces the chances of severe injury if an accident occurs.

11. Stress can throw water on all your exercising and balanced eating. So it is recommended not to take stress.

12. Keeping a positive outlook towards life can surely enhance your efforts for a healthy body.

13. Alcohol if consumed in heavy amount can pose a greater risk to life than any other thing can do.

14. Antioxidants work against the functioning of free radicals. Vitamins C and e function as free radical remover. So its intake can help in maintaining a good health.

15. Bone density decreases in women as they reach their 40’s. So calcium and its derived products are very essential for them. It is recommended to add calcium in your die.

16. Iodine is very essential for human body. Its deficiency causes a disease named goiter. Salt is the main source of iodine in body. But some salts do not produce iodine in the required amount. So a salt rich in iodine is very essential.

17. Wine helps you fight against any heart disease almost 68%.

18. Oil which is less on Tran’s fat is good for your heart.

19. A sound sleep of at least 7-8 hours can do wonders for your health. There is no substitute for a good sleep.

20. Sex can also help you get rid from stress. So satisfying sex life is also good mantra for a healthy life.

21. Caffeine if consumed in higher amount can cause insomnia and many other problems. So its intake has to be reduced any how.

22. Getting rid from all the bad habits can help your mind to function efficiently.

Healthy body can help you to achieve better results in every aspect of your life. Proper education regarding the correct things for a healthy life is essentially important. Each and every part of the body is equally important. All the parts function in unity with each other. So you need to focus on the entire body for becoming absolutely fit.

Dancing Your Way to Fitness

Some people have great passion towards dancing and pursue it as their career. However, to some people dancing is a hobby. Are you one of those people who love to dance in your spare time and are suffering from problem of being overweight? Here comes the good news. Dancing is a perfect way to lose those extra pounds in a fun filled manner without any stress. This article presents information on how dancing helps you shed those extra calories.

If you know the basics of dancing, then switch on your TV and tune in to a musical channel and dance your way to the rhythm of the music. If you can afford it, it is best to attend dance classes that are oriented for people who love to reduce weight through dancing.

Dancing is a fun filled way to exercise. It only serves to burn the extra calories, but the soothing music helps to get rid of all the stress. A stress free body remains healthy. It also helps to overcome the problem of stress related overeating that poses the threat of obesity. Before you start the dance session, do a little warm up to tune the body muscles for dancing. Similarly, cool yourself with a short walk or jog. If you have not danced earlier, give it a slow start by practicing about fifteen to twenty minutes a day. Do not start with complicated moves, you may get bored and quit dancing. Once the body is acquainted to simple dance moves, increase the degree of complexity and time period.

Dancing serves as whole body workout. You can work out all the muscle groups of the body by way of dancing. Women generally crave to have a perfect body shape. Dancing is the best way to shed all that extra fat and attain a perfect body shape while having fun. It is also a good opportunity to learn the dancing style to your liking such as the most popular salsa dance with a variety of body movements.

Another benefit of using dancing as a way to improve your fitness is that you do not need any special equipment. You can even practice at home without having to go to a boring gym. Thus, by dancing you can attain a perfect shape at zero cost. You do not have to sacrifice the foods that you like or purchase those expensive fad diets that do not give what they promise. Dancing also serves as a way to express your creativity. If you are creative enough to design new dance moves, you can even quit your existing job and start your new career as a dance choreographer. Isn’t this amazing?

However, if you are heavily overweight, take care of your ankle and knee joints while dancing. Make sure to use perfect shoes. Take necessary measures to prevent the danger of skidding. Use loose fitting clothes to perform the dance movements with ease. With the help of all the above tips, go ahead and start dancing as a means to remain fit.

Anti-Aging Skin Care

Our skin is one of the most used indicators of our age, and if you ask someone to predict how old you are it’s your skin that they’ll look to to make their estimate. For this reason, anti-aging skin care is one of the surest ways to look younger and healthier to make sure that there are no awkward moments when someone mistakes your sister for your daughter. Using the correct techniques it’s possible to cut up to 25 years off your appearance, maybe more, and not only look better but feel better too.

The first facet of anti-aging skin care is in our diet, and the more healthily we eat, the smoother and healthier our skin will be. This stands to reason when you consider that it’s our food that provides our body with the building blocks required to make look after our skin and every other tissue and muscle in the body. You literally are what you eat, and if you want healthy skin you need a healthy diet.

When thinking specifically about anti-aging skin care, there are three main things we need in our diet – antioxidants, vitamins and oil. First of all the anti oxidants, found in foods such as citrus fruits and fish, will help protect our skin cells (and every other cell) from oxidisation and attack from free radicals. This will mean that the skin cells come under less fire and so appear healthier. At the same time this will help protect the skin and other cells against cancer by lowering the chance of the DNA behind the cell walls being damaged or mutated.

Vitamins meanwhile, particularly vitamin A and E, are used in rebuilding the skin and are a great way to encourage the body to heal both scars and wrinkles. Essential fatty acids meanwhile will provide your skin with oil to keep it subtle and prevent it becoming dry and flaky. Omega 3 fatty acid will act as both a source of oil for your skin and a source of antioxidants, while a multivitamin tablet will provide the rest.

Anti-aging skin care is also about lifestyle, and how we treat our bodies will be reflected in the appearance of our skin. While soaking up the sun will help us to look bronzed and healthy in the short run, over time it will lead to damaged skin cells which will create more wrinkles in our old age. Similarly it’s important that we make sure we get lots of sleep. One of the reasons for this is that our sleep is when our body repairs damage done to our bodies throughout the day and so can rejuvenate our skin that way.

One of the ways in which this works is through the release of growth hormone, or HGH, which is a hormone that encourages anabolism in the body making it repair wounds, rebuild muscle, replace damaged cells and encourage growth in the muscles and bones (though the bones stop growing after puberty when the ‘growth plates’ will seal off). As well as sleep, another way to encourage the natural production of growth hormone (synthetic growth hormone is used a lot by bodybuilders and celebrities, but is unfortunately illegal in most states and countries and very expensive in those that it is not) is to exercise and to take hot showers, both of which will trigger an anabolic cycle.

Then the most obvious aspect of anti-aging skin care – the use of anti-aging cream and products. These will work in multiple ways, both protecting your skin from outside attack from UV rays and environmental factors, and providing your skin with important nutrients. You should make sure that you follow a routine and apply your face creams in the morning and in the night before bed. This routine should begin with an exfoliating cream or face wash which will remove dead skin cells (that can otherwise interfere with the mechanisms of the moisturising creams and nutrients). After this you should then use a protective cream such as Protect and Perfect from No 7, which will protect your skin from UV rays. Finally a rejuvenating moisturiser should be applied which should contain vitamins A and E – both of which are vital in skin repair and collagen, which will help keep the skin plum and elastic (it can be considered ‘nature’s Botox’. The moisturising element will also help give the skin moisture and keep it subtle and elastic. While you apply these creams, you should use circular motions with the pads of your fingers to massage the skin and encourage blood flow in the surface which will help provide it with more vital nutrients and keep the skin tone more even. Use concentric circles moving inwards towards the centre of the face – it’s also very relaxing and will help to keep the skin subtle and soft.

All these are examples of anti-aging skin care and will lessen the appearance of wrinkles over time, but they won’t have any immediately visible effects. For a more fast acting approach then you might consider laser treatment, which offers a painless and relatively inexpensive range of skin treatments. The laser facial for example will do the same job as the exfoliating skin – removing dead skin cells like a peal which will reveal the healthier living skin cells underneath. This will immediately lessen the appearance of wrinkles, help to even out skin tone, combat age spots, and help other skin treatments to be more effective. Another option, laser genesis, will work to stimulate the middle layer of skin cells to produce more natural collagen which will help to smooth out your complexion and make your skin look healthier and younger.

The final anti-aging skin care method is makeup. While this won’t have any effect on the actual health of your skin, it can still shave years off your age by concealing unwanted wrinkles and age spots and adding colour to the areas that want attention. Even for men, a basic self tanning moisturiser can help create a young, healthy ‘bronzed’ look and disguise lines and blemishes. Make sure when shopping for makeup however that you look for products that work with the skin and contain important nutrients and moisturisers as others can worsen bad skin.

Weight Loss

Weight loss is a concern for almost everyone on this planet. As we age our metabolism naturally slows. Enter the stresses of every day life such as working long hours, taking care of children, moving, loss of job, divorce, etc. and slowly the weight creeps up on us.

People will turn to drastic measures to experience some weight loss that includes dangerous surgeries, starvation diets and excessive routines. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The secret is to learn how foods affect our bodies, which foods to eat and when to eat them. It really isn’t that hard, once you realize that some foods work with your body to actually help you lose weight.

The best thing you can do for yourself is learn what works and what doesn’t. The Strip That Fat system can show you how to stay healthy, lose weight and keep it off for life. It is a lifestyle change, not a fad diet. The key to weight loss is helping your body naturally burn fat. It is as simple as that.

Many people eat the wrong foods at the wrong time of day and no matter how much they exercise, they just cannot seem to lose the fat. There are foods that boost the metabolism and help you to burn more calories, even at rest. Muscle helps the body burn fat as well. As we age we lose muscle mass and that is the number one contributor to a slow in metabolism. Food fuels your body, boosts our immune system and cleanses our bodies. When working correctly, our bodies are a great working machine. The problem comes when certain functions in our bodies are not doing their job. The reason for that some foods sabotage us, such as sugars causing a rise in our blood sugar levels resulting in fat being stored. Weight loss with high blood sugar levels is near impossible.

With Strip That Fat you will learn that fat is actually good for you to eat. Of course, eat fat in moderation, but there are good fats that help our bodies function and actually burn fat storage. There are ways to trick your body into thinking it’s full, teach your body to burn more calories and train your mind to sustain weight loss. Things like eating breakfast, not eating salads, and the secrets about water, are all things that can contribute dramatically to your weight loss.

Weight loss is a concern for almost everyone on this planet. As we age our metabolism naturally slows. Enter the stresses of every day life such as working long hours, taking care of children, moving, loss of job, divorce, etc. and slowly the weight creeps up on us.

People will turn to drastic measures to experience some weight loss that includes dangerous surgeries, starvation diets and excessive routines. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The secret is to learn how foods affect our bodies, which foods to eat and when to eat them. It really isn’t that hard, once you realize that some foods work with your body to actually help you lose weight.

The best thing you can do for yourself is learn what works and what doesn’t. The Strip That Fat system can show you how to stay healthy, lose weight and keep it off for life. It is a lifestyle change, not a fad diet. The key to weight loss is helping your body naturally burn fat. It is as simple as that.

Many people eat the wrong foods at the wrong time of day and no matter how much they exercise, they just cannot seem to lose the fat. There are foods that boost the metabolism and help you to burn more calories, even at rest. Muscle helps the body burn fat as well. As we age we lose muscle mass and that is the number one contributor to a slow in metabolism. Food fuels your body, boosts our immune system and cleanses our bodies. When working correctly, our bodies are a great working machine. The problem comes when certain functions in our bodies are not doing their job. The reason for that some foods sabotage us, such as sugars causing a rise in our blood sugar levels resulting in fat being stored. Weight loss with high blood sugar levels is near impossible.

With Strip That Fat you will learn that fat is actually good for you to eat. Of course, eat fat in moderation, but there are good fats that help our bodies function and actually burn fat storage. There are ways to trick your body into thinking it’s full, teach your body to burn more calories and train your mind to sustain weight loss. Things like eating breakfast, not eating salads, and the secrets about water, are all things that can contribute dramatically to your weight loss.

Tooth Pain Causes

Almost every adult has felt the harrowing pangs of tooth pain, at least once in their lifetime. The handful of people who have not experienced it, have already made a mental note of the excruciating pain by observing it befall on their near and dear ones. Scores of people dread paying a visit to the dentist, even if they have a tooth ache and procrastinate the checkup. The reason behind this avoidance is the amplified pain associated with the visit. We all know about how excruciating tooth pain can get, however, do we know what causes tooth pain. Let's have a look at the different tooth pain causes in detail.

Causes of Tooth Pain

Tooth Decay (Dental Caries)
Tooth decay, also known as dental caries or dental cavities, is one of the most common causes of tooth pain. A tooth gets decayed by the action of harmful acids secreted by bacteria present in the mouth. Food consumed comprises sugars and starches, which when left on the teeth forms plaque. The bacteria in the oral cavity thrive on the plaque and produce acids that erode tooth enamel. As the erosion progresses, a cavity is formed. The onset of tooth cavity formation cannot be identified, except by regular checkups with the dentist. By the time, symptoms of tooth pain emerge, the damage done to the tooth is quite large. One can even experience toothache after filling. Read more on tooth decay.

Gum Diseases
Periodontal disease or gum disease is a condition, in which gums get inflamed and gradually affect the bone supporting the tooth. The main cause of this condition is poor dental hygiene. Plaque accumulation on the teeth, contains bacteria. These bacteria release toxins, thereby damaging the gums. If this gum damage is not treated, tooth loss can occur. A skilled periodontist will ask for a tissue regeneration technique, if the bone surrounding the tooth has been destroyed. This procedure involves bone grafting, so as to enhance bone re-growth. He may even ask the patient to undergo gum surgery to treat the condition. Read more on periodontal disease: causes, symptoms and treatment.

Tooth Root Sensitivities
The roots of the teeth hold the entire tooth structure and are situated in the bone. Gum diseases, if left untreated, will conduce to root sensitivity. This is because the toxins released by the bacteria edge their ways into the tooth enamel, causing the roots to get exposed. These exposed roots contribute to tooth root sensitivities. Consumption of cold, hot and sour foods can cause the teeth to feel really tender and raw. Treatment for tooth pain caused by this recession of gums can be handled by fluoride gels in the initial stages and root canal treatment in the later stages. One can also resort to various home remedies for tooth pain relief.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder
Temporomandibular joint is the joint formed between the mandible (lower jaw) and the skull. Conditions like facial injury, teeth grinding - bruxism, arthritis, etc., can lead to inflammation of the joint. The muscles surrounding this joint undergo spasms and make simple tasks like opening of the mouth very difficult. The patient experiences pain in the jaws, ears and teeth as well. Thus, TMJ is another cause of tooth pain. The pain caused by this condition can be relieved by resorting to oral anti-inflammatory medications. The muscles around the joint area can be brought at ease, by applying a warm compress. Read more on temporomandibular joint disorders: TMJ symptoms and treatment.

Fractured Teeth
Any powerful blow to the mouth during an accident can lead to cracked tooth. Moreover, the tooth can also crack, if one bites forcefully on a hard object. The crack may or may not be severe and can result in pain, only when you use that area of the mouth to chew food. The cracked tooth will hurt every time any movement is made with it. This issue can be resolved by placing a dental crown, but if the crack has caused the pulp portion of the tooth to get exposed and infection has set in, the dentist will ask for a root canal treatment to be done.

Besides these dental causes of tooth pain, there are some non-dental tooth pain causes as well. Sinus or ear infections can lead to tooth pain. In some people, tooth pain appears to be the only symptom of an impending heart attack. Read more on: To avoid tooth pain spearheaded by any of the above tooth pain causes, it is important to maintain good dental hygiene. Regular brushing, flossing and proper dental care will keep your teeth from encountering major issues.

Calcium Citrate Side Effects

Basically, calcium citrate is a salt of citric acid. It is popularly used as a dietary supplement to improve the strength of the bones and teeth. The form of calcium which is supplied by calcium citrate is rarely found from the foods that we eat. For the purpose of absorption of calcium into the bones an acidic environment is required. Calcium citrate is capable of creating that kind of acidic environment in the stomach and thus facilitates the absorption of maximum amount of calcium into the body. The dosage of the calcium citrate depend on certain factors. They are: the age of the person, health condition, other forms of calcium intake of the person, etc. Normally, the ideal dosage for children should not be more that 800 mg per day and in the adults it should not exceed 1200 mg per day. Before knowing about the calcium citrate side effects let us find out about its uses as supplement.

Uses of Calcium Citrate

Dairy products like yogurt, milk cheese are rich source of calcium . However, many people today are avoiding all these foods which lead to calcium deficiency. These people need to take calcium citrate to meet their daily requirements of calcium. Those who are suffering from kidney failure tend to get higher phosphate levels in the body. This condition can be treated with the help of calcium citrate. Children with high fluoride levels are also given calcium citrate to bring down the fluoride level. Pregnant women require calcium citrate for various reasons. It is helpful for increasing fetal bone density and growth, easing off leg cramps which is common during pregnancy and reducing the danger of hypertension in pregnant women. Calcium citrate is required by women in the post menopause phase to prevent osteoporosis and menopause symptoms. It is also used to treat the condition of hyperactive thyroid gland. Sports persons need calcium citrate as they have additional requirement for calcium to make their muscles and bones stronger. You can refer to calcium rich foods.

Side Effects of Calcium Citrate

One of the most commonly observed calcium citrate side effects is that it causes some gastrointestinal problems. Like constipation, stomach gas, bloated feeling, etc. Some people also complain about nausea and vomiting, pain in the abdomen and loss of appetite. These problems are nothing very serious and one need not worry about them. They can be managed if calcium citrate supplement can be taken along with food and not in an empty stomach. In case, constipation becomes severe or continues for a long time, you may have to stop intake of calcium citrate. Headache is another minor form of side effect of calcium citrate and to control this one should take some rest.

The more serious side effects of calcium citrate is irregular heartbeat. This condition is often accompanied by other symptoms like flushing and excessive sweating. These symptoms are not very normal and doctor need to be consulted. Another side effect is increase in the frequency of urination. If you observe that the urine output has increased or you are experiencing any pain while urinating after you have started the intake of calcium citrate you should report this to your doctor.

Though allergic reaction to this calcium supplement is rare but it may happen. The symptoms of allergies are eruption of skin rashes, swelling inside the mouth or face, tight feelings in the chest, difficulty in breathing etc. Other rare side effects of calcium citrate are pain in muscles and bones, abnormal loss of body weight and swallowing difficulty may be observed in some people. You can also refer to calcium supplements - side effects.

Calcium citrate side effects can be controlled to a great extent if you have a detailed discussion with your doctor about your medical history and other medications. The doctor should have the knowledge of medical conditions like heart rhythm problem, kidney problem, frequent tendency of getting dehydration or constipation. Interaction of calcium citrate with other medicines could also be responsible for the side effects. Intake of any antibiotics, or other prescription drugs, herbs or dietary supplements should be informed too. If you have the habit of smoking or drinking alcohol, tell your doctor about it.