Calcium Needed to Assist Weight Loss

Have you been struggling to get rid of those few extra pounds? Perhaps the reason is not having enough calcium in your diet. Let's take a closer look at the role calcium plays in weight loss...new research shows that calcium -- three or four daily servings of low-fat dairy products can help adjust your body's fat-burning machinery. While it's true that 99% of the 1.2kg of calcium in the average human body goes to make up bone tissue, the remaining 1% is vitally important. Calcium is needed to switch muscles on and off without it, no muscular contraction would be possible and is also vital to the release of neurotransmitter chemicals, such as serotonin, acetylcholine and norepinephrine. Calcium is also an important co-factor for blood clotting and activates numerous enzyme systems in the body. Tips to get more Calcium in your diet: Start your day with a calcium fortified cereal, topped with skim milk and almonds. Snack on low-fat string cheese or low-fat fruited yogurt. Top pancakes or waffles with low-fat yogurt and sliced fresh fruit instead of syrup. For dessert, try instant pudding made with skim milk. Add calcium fortified fruit juices to your meals instead of soda. Top a sandwich with a slice of reduced-fat cheese. Mix up a fruit smoothie with low-fat frozen yogurt and skim milk. If milk is a problem, look for calcium fortified soy milk and tofu. Add steamed broccoli to a salad and black-eyed peas.