The body needs calcium to keep bones strong.
If it lacks calcium, the body begins to draw it from the bones to maintain balance in the blood. Over time, this can weaken the bones.
This becomes especially problematic with age. Older individuals and women after menopause have a harder time rebuilding bone mass, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis.
Hidden signals
Calcium deficiency is often detected late because symptoms are initially mild or unclear. As a result, many people do not notice anything until the bones have already been affected.
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In addition, the signs can resemble other conditions, making proper examination important, where early detection is key.
Focus of research
Research has long examined what influences the body’s calcium levels.
According to a review in the Journal of Nutrition, caffeine increases the excretion of calcium and other minerals through urine for several hours after consumption.
The body does not fully adapt to this loss, which may increase the risk of osteoporosis, especially if calcium intake is already low.
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Health authorities such as the FDA and Anvisa consider, according to Tuasaude, that up to 400 mg of caffeine per day is safe for healthy adults. Higher intake may increase the risk of imbalance in the body.
Calcium deficiency is therefore not only caused by low intake of dairy products. High caffeine consumption can also play a significant role by increasing the body’s loss of calcium.
Sources: Tuasaude, Journal of Nutrition, FDA and Anvisa.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.