Functions of Calcium and Muscle Growth
Did you know that the function of calcium is essential for muscle growth? Although it may seem unbelievable, this is completely true.
Nowadays, many people are trying to build their bodies in order to look better, but only a few of them know that exercise is not enough to accomplish their task. More than that, a diet that does not include calcium based foods is a total failure to get a strong body and nice muscles.
The role of calcium for the human body
It is to be noted that the human body is probably the most complex “machine”, which can function at its full capacity if it receives the right nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
One of the most widespread minerals in our body is calcium. Around 99% of the calcium in the human body is stored in the hard structures and, even if only 1% of the calcium in the human body can be found outside of the bones, it helps in the following processes:
- Clotting of the blood;
- Blood pressure stabilization;
- Brain functioning;
- Contraction of the muscle process;
- Hormonal secretion;
- Prevention of colon cancer.
Calcium and muscle growth
This mineral is closely connected to many of the functions that vitamin D plays in the human body. Generally, the function of calcium is to keep our bones healthy.
People start to accumulate calcium in their bones before they are even born, more exactly, during the 3rd trimester. They continue accumulating it until they reach adulthood. After this period, the level of calcium in the body begins to decline.
But what is the function of calcium? Let us see…
Muscle contraction – One of its main functions is that it aids in muscle contraction. Muscle contraction is based on the sliding filament theory. This means that the myofilaments, which can be found inside the muscle fibers, are connected to one another and slide to contract the muscles.
This process cannot be possible if calcium is absent. Without muscle contraction, there would be no muscle growth.
Physical resistance – We all know that exercise is essential for muscle growth, but, during this program, fatigue may appear. The lack of proper calcium level in your body will reduce the force of muscle contractions. This is another important function of calcium.
Calcium for Muscle relaxation.
During exercise, our muscle contract and relax. Calcium has an essential role not only in the contraction, but also in the relaxation process of the muscle movement. Both actions are essential for muscle growth and they will not take place correctly if the calcium level is too low. Consequently, calcium is very important for gaining a nice muscle mass.
Cardiac muscle – This mineral helps regulate the beat of the cardiac muscle, which is essential if you want to complete your exercise successfully. During exercise programs, not only are your muscles working, but the cardiac muscle is also.
The sinoatrial node is a set of cardiac cells that change their polarization to start a contraction. At this point, sodium, which is positively charged, gets into the cell and increases its pole. After that, positively-charged calcium floods the sinoatrial node, thus stimulating the other cardiac cells. Consequently, a beat is produced.
Calcium is one of the most important nutrients we need in order to have strong, healthy bones and muscles. More than that, every time you make any movement, your muscles contract and this mineral helps the contraction process, thus making them grow.
So, the function of calcium is very important if you want to get strong muscle mass and healthy bones.