When is the best time for children to take calcium supplements? How should children take calcium tablets?

Parents hope that their children are as tall as possible. Many parents want to have a tall child, so calcium supplementation has become a daily task for parents. There are also skills in calcium supplementation. What is the best way to supplement calcium? Let's introduce to you in detail how to supplement calcium for children.

When is calcium supplementation effective for children?

The best time to take calcium supplement is before going to bed every day. During the three meals a day during the day, the human body can take in 300 mg to 400 mg or even more calcium from food. When the body excretes calcium from urine through the calcium regulation mechanism, the blood can be supplemented from food at any time to maintain the blood calcium level. At night, the human body no longer eats, but urine is formed as usual, and part of the calcium in the blood continues to enter the urine. Therefore, in order to maintain a normal blood calcium level, the human body has to use the calcium store - calcium in the bones. As a result of this self-regulation in the body, most of the calcium in the urine in the early morning comes from bone calcium. On the other hand, the secretion of various hormones that regulate blood calcium levels in the human body is different during the day and at night, so the blood calcium level is generally lower at night and higher during the day. Low blood calcium levels at night can also stimulate the secretion of parathyroid hormone, which accelerates the decomposition of bone calcium. Calcium supplementation before going to bed can provide a calcium source for this calcium regulation at night, blocking the body from using bone calcium. Moreover, calcium also has a sedative effect, which can help sleep. Therefore, eating milk or other calcium-supplementing foods and medicines before going to bed is the best time to supplement calcium in a day.

Misconceptions about calcium supplementation for children

1. Do not take calcium supplements containing phosphorus

The main elements for building bones are calcium and phosphorus, and the relationship between the two is very close. The calcium and phosphorus ingested by the human body must meet a certain ratio. If the intake of phosphorus is too much, it will form water-insoluble calcium phosphate and be excreted from the body. This will inevitably lead to calcium loss. However, due to food and water problems, the phosphorus intake of Chinese people has greatly exceeded the standard. Especially in infants and young children, excessive phosphorus will lead to a series of serious consequences. Chinese nutrition experts call for: Never give infants and young children calcium supplements containing phosphorus!

2. Magnesium affects calcium absorption

Calcium and magnesium are both divalent ions, and their absorption in the human body will produce competition. For infants and young children, the magnesium content in the body can meet the needs of metabolism through food, and no additional supplement is needed. Excessive magnesium can not only affect the absorption and utilization of calcium, but also cause motor dysfunction. It is recommended not to blindly supplement calcium supplements containing magnesium.

3. Eat less salt in your food to help calcium absorption

Recent studies have found that calcium and sodium compete in the reabsorption process in the renal tubules. When sodium intake is high, the body will reduce calcium absorption. The World Health Organization recommends that the daily salt intake of Chinese people should be less than 6g, and the less the better for infants and young children. Therefore, it is recommended that families who like to eat salty food strictly control the salt intake in their children's diet to ensure the absorption and utilization of calcium in their bodies.

4. Effects of phytic acid and oxalic acid in food on calcium

Chinese people mainly eat plant-based food. Beans and unfermented flour contain phytic acid; some vegetables (spinach, bamboo shoots, edamame, wild rice stem, onions, etc.) contain oxalic acid, which can combine with calcium to form insoluble substances and affect calcium absorption. When supplementing calcium, you should pay attention to these issues.

5. Calcium carbonate is the best source of calcium

Whether in terms of calcium content or absorption efficiency, calcium carbonate is the best known calcium source. Vitamin D plays a decisive role in calcium absorption. Therefore, parents should choose appropriate calcium supplements for their babies in spring. Calcium supplements that use calcium carbonate as a calcium source and contain vitamin D can ensure better calcium absorption. For example, the international brand Caltrate Xiaotianjia is not only rich in calcium and vitamin D, but also contains other trace elements needed for baby development, such as iron, zinc, and copper, which can help babies gain strength in spring.

Children's height growth rules

Good work and rest habits

Good work and rest habits are crucial to the healthy growth of children. Parents should play a supervisory role. Teenagers should try to go to bed before 11 pm and get up around 7 am. People grow in sleep. Sleep can not only eliminate fatigue, but also the growth of the human body is more vigorous when it falls asleep, and the duration is longer, which is conducive to growth. Therefore, developing a habit of worrying about life and ensuring adequate sleep can also make the human body grow taller.

Good eating habits

Try not to let your children develop the habit of being picky eaters. Parents should pay attention to the daily diet of teenagers and try to let their children eat more foods high in calcium, such as milk, soy products, dried shrimps, kelp, etc. It is very important for teenagers to supplement calcium through diet therapy, and it is also a very healthy and green way to supplement calcium.

Adequate calcium products

Teenagers are in the period of physical growth and development, and their bodies have a greater demand for calcium. The daily calcium intake should be 1200 mg. In addition to the calcium taken from food in daily diet, it is also necessary to take some calcium products in moderation to supplement the body's calcium. Teenager calcium supplement experts remind parents that when choosing calcium products, they must choose calcium products with strong solubility, easy absorption and high utilization rate. When supplementing calcium for teenagers, remember not to supplement calcium excessively, which is also something parents need to pay attention to.

Proper exercise

Physical exercise for teenagers can increase the hormones that promote height growth. It is important to exercise in small amounts each time and multiple times a day for maximum effectiveness. It can increase appetite and promote sleep.