Of the Latin scientific calcium, the calcium is the chemical element with atomic number 20 and symbol Ca. It is a metal of white or gray, usually in the form of sulfate (such as gypsum) or carbonate (the calcite) and is abundant in the cortex of the Earth.
Humphry Davy was the one who discovered calcium in 1808, through the electrolysis of an amalgam of mercury and lime. For many years, until the beginning of the 20th century, calcium was only obtained in laboratories.
According to DigoPaul, calcium is an important component in bones, teeth, shells, and in various plant structures. In combination with oxygen, calcium forms lime, used in construction.
Calcium burns to form calcium oxide and nitride. Faced with environmental humidity, it reacts to form hydroxide, while in contact with water, it releases hydrogen.
In organisms, calcium appears as a calcium ion or as part of other molecules. Calcium ions are responsible for regulating muscle contraction (along with potassium and sodium) and play a role in glycogen metabolism.
The skeletal calcium (which is stored in bones), therefore, is involved in the metabolic activities. It is usually located at the end of the long bones, although it is mobilized to meet growth needs. The human being has a reserve of calcium that increases thanks to his diet; When this reserve does not exist, calcium is withdrawn from the bone reserve, which is a problem for bone structure.
Calcium in vegetables and ethical diet
Calcium is essential for maintaining healthy bones and teeth and is considered one of the most important minerals for balanced health. However, and despite the fact that a popular idea determines that this fundamental element can only be found in milk and its derivatives, there are many vegetables that have a high calcium content and that could provide us with it without having to go to the farm market animal.
It is true that we are more used to providing calcium through the ingestion of milk, cheese and other derivatives thereof, however it is important to keep in mind that what we can take from some vegetables can be even easier to assimilate by our body.
Some vegetables that are rich in calcium are spinach, cabbage, onion, broccoli, watercress, among many others. In addition, many legumes such as white beans, chickpeas, lentils and soybeans are great nutrients that offer calcium to our body, among other minerals. On the other hand, nuts are also plant foods rich in calcium and that we should not forget in our diet; Among them, walnuts, pistachios and hazelnuts should be highlighted.
We can also clarify that maintaining an exclusively vegetable diet will allow better health for our body because we will avoid excess fats and animal proteins that are so abundant in the meals that most people are used to and that are important causes of diseases. more important that surround us. If our diet is vegetable we will lack this protein but we will have high doses of minerals, fiber, vitamins and vegetable protein, which will ensure a balance and recommended physical stability.
Finally and in order to eliminate certain phrases that have little foundation in reality, it should be noted that maintaining a strict Vegan diet, where no type of dairy is consumed, is not synonymous with having a diet without calcium. For this reason, it is best to find out about which vegetables we will find substitutes for derivatives and make sure to provide ourselves with a balanced and, above all, ethical diet.
