Utterly Delicious:

1. Utterly Delicious: The Benefits of a Calcium Rich Diet

2. Benefits of Calcium: Helps Prevent Osteoporosis Aids in the Prevention of Obesity Helps Fight Hypertension Helps Prevent Colon Cancer and Kidney Stones

3. Osteoporosis: Effects over 25 million people in the United States One-Third of Georgians over 50 years old have osteoporosis and this leads to 75 fractures per day Cost us $1 million per day Must make efforts to prevent before age 30

4. What causes Osteoporosis? Certain types of bones are sensitive to hormones that govern day to day deposits and withdrawals of calcium and they readily give up mineral whenever blood calcium needs replenishing When blood calcium drops below normal, bones will release calcium to stabilize the blood.

5. How do you Prevent Osteoporosis? Adequate Calcium Adequate Weight Bearing Exercise Adequate Sex Steroids

6. Obesity �Current dietary practices promote growth but not healthy growth.� Duane Alexander, M.D. Childhood obesity has tripled in the last 5 years 60% of adults in the U.S. are overweight

7. How does Calcium Effect Weight Control? The obesity gene is suppressed when there is adequate amounts of calcium in the blood. Then the body decreases fat storage and increases fat burning. Individuals on weight loss diets that include adequate amounts of dietary calcium, loss more weight then those that did not include dietary calcium. Children with the highest milk consumption showed a 33% reduced risk of being overweight compared to those who consume the least amount of milk Diary products are being replaced with higher calorie, less nutritious alternatives (soda, juice, etc.)

8. Hypertension Pressure pushes the blood through the large arteries into the smaller ones and then into the tiny capillaries. As arteries constrict, it increases the pressure inside the blood vessels. Hypertension causes strain on the heart, aorta, brain and kidneys. This can lead to stroke, weakened heart, aneurysms and kidney failure.

9. How does Calcium affect Hypertension? Calcium is a mineral that helps regulate muscle contractions. When the body does not have adequate calcium, the smooth muscle, like in blood vessels, constrict and therefore increase blood pressure.

10. Colon Cancer and Kidney Stones Colon cancer is a malignant disease that occurs in the large intestine. Kidney stone are a formation of oxalates that form stones in the kidneys.

11. How can calcium help prevent colon cancer and kidney stones? Calcium neutralizes certain disease causing by-products, such as bile and oxalic acid from food. Calcium binds to these by-products and they are excreted.

12. How much Calcium is enough? Bone Health 1000-2400 mg/d Blood Pressure 1200 mg/d Obesity >1200 mg/d Colon Cancer 1300-2200 mg/d Kidney Stones >1050 mg/d

13. Calcium Sources Milk and Milk Products Boney Fish Green Leafy Vegetables Legumes Dried Fruits Fortified Breads and Cereals Fortified Fruit Juices Fortified Soy Product

14. Does it matter which Dairy Products you choose? �Choosing low fat milk would bring children�s dietary fat intake down within normal limits.� Duane Alexander, M.D. No one over the age of 2 needs to drink whole milk. Recommend skim milk, reduced fat cheeses, Low fat yogurt or cottage cheese

15. Conclusion? Research has shown that in order to maintain health the average adult needs >1200 mg/d of dietary calcium. Research show that dietary calcium is much more effective that supplements. What does things equal? Four 8 oz glasses of skim milk a day