(ARA) Calcium has become a buzzword of late. We hear about it in our doctor’s office, in advertisements and on food labels. We often associate calcium with our childhood years, when we were told to “drink your milk” for strong teeth and bones; or it is considered important during our older years when we become concerned with maintaining strong bones. The reality is that women, whose need for calcium is far greater than their male counterparts, often have not been told how crucial calcium is during every stage of their lives.

Calcium is a mineral that, even before birth, plays a significant role in almost all our body functions, including the development and health of our teeth and bones, and ultimately in protecting the body against debilitating bone loss as we age. The National Institute of Health recommends that, in addition to a healthy diet, adult women have a daily supplemental calcium intake of 1000 to 1200 mg before menopause and 1300 to 1500 mg after menopause.

In addition, recent scientific research and government recommendations have raised questions about the effectiveness and potential risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), causing many women to look for safe, natural alternatives designed specifically for pre through post-menopausal women.