Calcium is found in every cell throughout the body. Over ninety percent is found stored in the bones and teeth.
- Calcium is regulated by the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and pituitary gland. It’s use in the body is involved in maintaining the acid alkaline balance.
- It is necessary for normal blood clotting, nerve conduction, muscle contraction and relaxation, cell division, heart rate, and maintenance of the bones and teeth.
- It is a primary extra-cellular element.
- Excellent quality bioavailable calcium is lacking in the diets of most people. The main food sources are raw and organic dairy products, carrots and carrot juice and a few other vegetable sources such as nuts and seeds. However, when cows milk is pasteurized and homogenized, calcium availability declines greatly. As a result, most people are not benefitting enough from the calcium in the milk, cheese and yogurt they are consuming.
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Sources Of Calcium
| Seafood - | sardines, caviar, smelt |
| Animal products - | egg yolks |
| Nuts/seeds - | almonds, sesame seeds, filberts |
| Vegetables - | kale, collards, mustard greens, turnip greens |
| Dairy - | cheeses, milk |
| Miscellaneous - | molasses, kelp, brewer's yeast, torula yeast |
Roles In The Body
About 99% of our calcium is found in bone structures. However, calcium is essential for four other critical roles:
| Cell Membrane Regulation - | affecting cell permeability, muscle contraction and nerve impulse conduction. |
| Body Fluid Regulation - | affecting blood clotting, acidity and alkalinity. |
| Regulation of cell division | |
| Regulation of hormone secretion - | insulin |
Functions Of Calcium
| Circulatory - | excites the heart, constricts small blood vessels |
| Excretory - | inhibits water loss |
| Digestive - | in excess, is constipating |
| Nervous - | slows nerve impulse transmission |
| Reproductive - | required for normal cell division |
| Endocrine - | inhibits release of thyroid-releasing and other pituitary hormones |
| Blood - | stimulates blood formation and is required for blood clotting |
| Muscular - | reduces muscular irritability and contractibility |
| Skeletal - | main component of bone |
| Metabolic - | required for phosphorus metabolism and energy production in the Krebs cycle |
| Detoxification - | inhibits uptake of lead, antagonizes cadmium |
| Cellular - | decreases permeability of cells to sodium and potassium ions |
Nutrients That Are Synergistic With Calcium
| Absorption - vitamin A and D, stomach acidity, protein in diet |
| Utilization - magnesium, copper, vitamin C |
Antagonistic Nutrients
| Absorption - fluoride, low stomach acidity, low protein in diet, phosphorus in excess |
| Utilization - lead, cadmium, sodium, potassium, high protein diet increases calcium loss in urine |
Reasons For Calcium Supplementation
- to slow the oxidation rate
- to help detoxify lead and cadmium
- to balance key mineral ratios
References:
Wilson, L., Nutritional Balancing and Hair Mineral Analysis, L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc., 1998, 2005, 2010, 2014.
Calcium (Ca)
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