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Minerals & Nutrition > Calcium
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body with most of it in our bones
and teeth with the remaining 1% in the soft tissues and watery parts of the
body where calcium helps to regulate normal processes of the body. Calcium is perhaps the most important mineral in the body, which we need for:
- muscular growth
- building and maintaining bones and teeth
- protecting bones and teeth from absorbing toxic metals
- preventing cardiovascular disease and regulating heart rhythm
- transmission of nerve impulses
- blood clotting
-
helping us sleep well
- helping regulate the passage of nutrients in & out of the cell walls
- helping maintain proper nerve and muscle function
- lowering blood pressure
- supporting normal kidney function
- reducing the incidence of colon cancer,
- reducing blood cholesterol levels.
- preventing bone loss associated with osteoporosis
- participates in protein structuring of RNA and DNA.
- the activation of several enzymes including lipase (for the breakdown of fats)
- maintaining proper cell permeability
- aiding in neuromuscular activity
- keeping skin healthy
- protecting against pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, which is the number one cause of maternal death.
Calcium Deficiency Symptoms:
 May result in arm and leg muscles spasms, softening of bones, back and leg cramps, brittle bones, rickets,
poor growth, osteoporosis ( a deterioration of the bones), tooth decay, depression and:
- Aching joints
- Brittle nails
- Eczema
- Elevated blood cholesterol
- Heart palpitations
- Hypertension
- Insomnia
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Rickets
- Cognitive impairment
- Convulsions
Dietary Sources of Calcium
Milk and milk products, such as low-fat and non-fat cheese, cottage cheese, and
yogurt. Other sources of calcium include dark green leafy vegetables, spinach,
kale, turnip greens, cabbage, collard, mustard, seaweeds, alfalfa, broccoli,
canned fish (especially sardines, clams, oysters, and salmon) with bones, cooked
dried beans and peas and nutritional supplements.
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