Calcium Facts

DID YOU KNOW?

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body and is essential for the proper function of cells, for blood clotting, for muscle contraction, and for the transmission of nerve impulses from nerve endings to muscle fibers. Some people have too little calcium in the blood, a disorder known as hypocalcemia. The most common cause of hypocalcemia is vitamin D deficiency due to poor diet or lack of exposure to the sun. Adequate levels of vitamin D are necessary for proper absorption of calcium. The main dietary sources of calcium include milk and dairy products, green vegetables, fish, eggs, and fruit. People with dairy allergies, intolerance to lactose, or gastrointestinal disorders are at an increased risk of calcium deficiency and may require supplementation. Some studies have shown that the rate of colorectal cancer and prostate cancer is reduced when calcium intake is increased. Contrary to what was once believed, recent studies have shown that higher levels of calcium may also help prevent the formation of kidney stones. If the dietary intake of calcium is inadequate, calcium is withdrawn from the bones in the body in order to prevent a drop in blood calcium levels. The addition of a calcium supplement to the diet can protect bones from the negative effects produced by the loss of calcium. The human body is held together by 206 different bones and 143 different joints, which act as protectors, levers, shock absorbers, and hinges. Each second, the human body produces approximately 2.5 million red blood cells inside the 9 ounces of bone marrow our bones contain. Nutrients from our diet flow in and out of bone, dissolved in blood, to nourish bones and promote red cell development. Bone is a living organ that is constantly transforming as it repairs or replaces itself. The 206 bones that make up the human skeleton are entirely renewed and replaced every 7 to 10 years. Calcium, in its natural state, occurs in limestone, fluorite, and gypsum, and is used to make plaster, quicklime, cement, and electronic materials. Calcium constitutes 3.5% of the Earth's crust, is obtained from limestone, marble, and chalk, and is found only in living organisms. People are unable to feel their bones getting weaker. Breaking a bone is often the first symptom of osteoporosis. Someone with severe osteoporosis can fracture a bone from a minor fall, a sneeze, walking, or even spontaneously. Breastfeeding often triggers bone loss in areas prone to fractures, such as the spine, hip, and wrist. Fortunately, bone lost during breastfeeding is replaced with new bone within two years of giving birth. Nearly 90% of adult bone mass is acquired by the age of 18 years in girls, and by the age of 20 years in boys Nearly one-half of the adult skeleton is formed during the teen years. Osteoporosis is not only an older person's disease. It can strike at any age, and even children are not immune to bone loss. Babies have more bones than adults! At birth, we are born with about 300 bones, but as we grow older, small bones join together and we are left with 206 separate bones. More people are allergic to milk and dairy products than any other food. This is one reason for the high incidence of calcium deficiency in the population. The human thigh bones are the longest bones in the human body, and they are stronger than concrete! Bone is possibly the body's most amazing tissue. It is as strong as cast iron, while remaining as light as wood. It can adapt to its functional demands and has the ability to repair itself. Teeth are considered part of the human skeletal system, but they are not bones. Teeth are made of dentin and enamel, which is the strongest substance in the human body. Very few foods contain vitamin D. The flesh of fish and fish liver oils are the best sources, but small amounts are found in egg yolk, cheese, beef liver, and some mushrooms. Americans get some of their vitamin D from fortified foods, but most people meet their vitamin D requirements through exposure to the sun's rays. Each year, approximately 2.5 million American men and women will suffer a broken bone due to a reduction in bone mass and strength Sufficient intake of vitamin D prevents the development of rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. A person would need to drink ten glasses of vitamin D fortified milk every day in order to get enough vitamin D to reduce the risks associated with deficiency, such as osteoporosis, depression, and diabetes. Some studies show that high-protein diets cause an increased risk of bone loss and fractures due to greater calcium excretion in the urine. If you feel pain or tenderness when pressing firmly on your sternum, you may be suffering from a vitamin D deficiency. Approximately one-half of all magnesium in the body is located in bone. Magnesium assists in the formation of bone and teeth, and aids the absorption of calcium and potassium. Calcium stimulates the muscles of the body, while magnesium helps relax muscles. Magnesium is required for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the human body, including normal nerve and muscle function, regulation of heart rhythm and blood sugar levels, energy metabolism, protein synthesis, immune system operation, blood pressure regulation, and bone formation and maintenance. After the age of 65 years, one out of every two American women will develop osteoporosis. In 2005, osteoporosis was responsible for more than 2 million fractures, including 135,000 pelvic fractures, 397,000 wrist fractures, 297,000 fractures of the hip, and a whopping 547,000 vertebral fractures! The disease is estimated to have caused an additional 675,000 fractures in other areas of the body. Less than 50% of teens get sufficient calcium every day, and only 15% of teenage girls receive adequate amounts of calcium! According to two separate studies published in 2004, adequate vitamin D intake significantly reduces the risk of developing an autoimmune disease. Women who take 400 IU or more of vitamin D per day are 40% less likely to develop multiple sclerosis than women who take in less of this important vitamin. Because the rays of natural sunlight responsible for generating vitamin D in the skin cannot penetrate glass, you receive little benefit from sun exposure when sitting inside your home or car. Approximately 76% of expectant mothers are severely deficient in vitamin D, resulting in dangerous vitamin D deficiencies in unborn babies. 81% of babies born to deficient mothers are also deficient. Missing or irregular menstrual periods due to low estrogen levels can trigger osteoporosis in women. In men, low levels of the hormone testosterone can result in osteoporosis. Vitamin D deficiency in unborn children predisposes those children to a variety of conditions, including type one diabetes, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and schizophrenia. In addition to calcium, your body needs sufficient levels of magnesium for optimum health. Legumes, whole grains, nuts, and vegetables are all good dietary sources of magnesium. Magnesium is crucial to maintaining strong bones for two reasons: it regulates active calcium transport and assists the parathyroid gland in processing vitamin D. In its early stages, magnesium deficiency can cause fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and weakness. Later stages of magnesium deficiency can result in numbness, tingling, seizures, muscle contractions, muscle cramps, changes in personality, irregular heart rhythms, and coronary spasms. Severe magnesium deficiency can cause low blood calcium levels, a condition called hypocalcemia. Magnesium deficiency can also cause hypokalemia, or low blood levels of potassium. Restless Leg Syndrome is a chronic condition that can severely interfere with sleep. Taking calcium and magnesium before bed has been shown to reduce the occurrence of RLS and encourage sleep. According to data published in June 2005 by the Archives of Internal Medicine, adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D3 reduce the incidence of PMS by 60%, and decrease the rates of some cancers by 50%. Because the body cannot absorb more than 500 mg of calcium at a time, foods or supplements containing elemental calcium should be consumed throughout the day. The ocean provides us with the greatest sources of calcium for whole foods - Spirulina, Nova Scotia Dulse, Chlorella, and Kelp. The human body's tiniest bone is the stirrup bone, which is located in the middle ear. This bone is approximately .11 inches long. The quality of your brain function relies upon sufficient levels of calcium and magnesium. These two essential minerals comprise most of the mineral content of the human brain.