Realize, Analyze and Herbalyze.

Calcium - Not Just for Teeth and Bones

We all know that calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth, but did you know that calcium plays a critical role in other functions within your body?

Your body contains about 2.5 pounds of calcium; your bones and teeth contain 99% of all the calcium in your body, and the remaining 1% (about 1/3 ounce) circulates in your blood or sits in your body's soft tissues.

Calcium's "other" roles:

• Used to activate the enzymes involved in fat and protein digestion
• Involved in blood clotting
• Helps with the transmission of nerve impulses
• Functions as an electrolyte, which helps regulate the amount of fluids in your body, which regulates blood pressure
• Helps you maintain a normal heart rhythm
• Regulates the contraction and relaxation of muscles
• Aids the absorption of many nutrients, especially vitamin B-12

Calcium is so important to your health that your body self-ensures it maintains a constant level of calcium in your blood, no matter how much your diet provides. The secret "stash" of calcium is in your bones, which release calcium into your blood as needed.

i think its time to switch to calcium rich diet...

If the stash is regularly drawn from, your bones become porous and weak, and you set forth bone loss (aka osteoporosis).

Low calcium intake during childhood, teen years, and early adulthood set the stage for osteoporosis in later life.  A diet high in simple sugars and phosphorous (like soda and food additives/processed foods) impairs calcium absorption, and increases the amount of calcium pulled out of your bone.

Mild calcium deficiencies may result in: stunted bone/teeth development, heart palpitations, insomnia, irritability, nerve sensitivity, muscle twitching, mental confusion and a feeling of depression.

If you do decide to take calcium in supplement form:

• it should be taken with magnesium and Vitamin D, because they all work together to enhance each other's absorption and utilization in the body [see note below]
• do not take it at the same time that you eat iron-rich foods, or with an iron supplement - calcium blocks the absorption of iron
• divide your dose into two or three servings as your body can only absorb 500 mg of calcium at any one time

A final note on the importance of proper magnesium intake with calcium:

Magnesium is needed for calcium absorption. Without enough magnesium, calcium can collect in the soft tissues and cause one type of arthritis.
 Not only does calcium collect in the soft tissues of arthritics, it is poorly, if at all, absorbed into their blood and bones.
Taking more calcium is not the answer; it only amplifies the problem.

                          fig. above tells us abput the balanced intake of calcium with vitamin D.

 In fact, excessive calcium intake and insufficient magnesium can contribute to both of these diseases. Magnesium taken in proper dosages can solve the problem of calcium deficiency.

Because magnesium suppresses PTH and stimulates calcitonin it helps put calcium into our bones, preventing osteoporosis, and helps remove it from our soft tissues eliminating some forms of arthritis. A magnesium deficiency will prevent this chemical action from taking place in our bodies, and no amount of calcium can correct it. While magnesium helps our body absorb and retain calcium, too much calcium prevents magnesium from being absorbed. So taking large amounts of calcium without adequate magnesium may either create malabsorption or a magnesium deficiency. Whichever occurs, only magnesium can break the cycle. 

Sources:

• The Real Vitamin & Mineral Book, Shari Lieberman & Nancy Bruning
• Foods That Heal, Bernard Jensen
• Nature's Pharmacy

please express your views and sgare your comments with us.....! Regards...