Calcium is one of the main minerals
that the body needs.
Today, many people are aware of this and are taking
calcium supplements thinking all their calcium needs are being
met.
However, my clinical experience in my clinic, Advanced
Clinical
Nutrition, reveals just the opposite.
This article provides information
on the role of calcium,eight common causes of calcium deficiency and
calcium-related health problems, and cautions about taking calcium
supplements
without professional supervision. This article relates to
you, personally, whether you take a calcium supplement or not.
Taking
calcium supplements without professional supervision has proven to result in
calcium deficiency and a myriad of other calcium-related health problems.
Just the opposite of what the person intended. As you read on, you will
understand why.
Here are the findings for each new client seen at
Advanced Clinical Nutrition, who has been regularly taking
calcium supplements without professional supervision: These
clients
were:
Taking the wrong type of calcium for their biochemistry
(there are over 250,000 types), taking too much calcium, not taking enough
calcium, and/or not metabolizing the calcium they are
taking.
Of these
four, the two most common factors are (listed in order of priority): not
metabolizing the calcium they are taking and taking the wrong type of calcium
for their nutritional biochemistry.
Not metabolizing calcium is like
dying of thirst in a boat in the ocean - water, water, everywhere but you
cannot use any of it. If you are not metabolizing calcium, you
have calcium, calcium everywhere, but you will not get it into the bones
as you intended no matter how much you take.
In an attempt to meet the
body's calcium requirements to prevent muscle cramping, osteoporosis, nose
bleeding, menstrual spotting or flooding, and the various other symptoms
related to calcium deficiencies, most people are
actually perpetuating their
calcium deficiency.
In addition, to this they are causing additional
nutritional deficiencies in the vitamins and minerals that depend upon
sufficient
calcium, inhibiting health improvement and causing, instead of
preventing, calcium-related health problems and/or disease.
If you are
currently taking calcium supplements, it is essential for you to be tested
for the right type, amount and ability to metabolize calcium or you may be
surprised to learn that the calcium supplements you have been taking have
worked against you instead of for you.
Even if you have received some initial
positive symptom relief by adding a calcium supplement to your diet, the
long-term affects of taking calcium supplements may work against you if you
have
not been assessed for the right type and amount of
calcium supplementation. Problems occur when one assumes that
simply taking a calcium supplement is all that is require to
attain adequate calcium in the body.
What is the Role of Calcium in
the Body?
As you know, Calcium is especially important for the
bones.
We need healthy bones in order to receive air and energy to the
rest of the body. We could not live without the air and the sun. Though 80%
of our energy comes from these sources, our bones act as antennae which
absorbs electrical energy.
They do this by an ionization process. The energy
in the soft bone marrow goes clockwise (pulls upward), while
the electrical energy of solid outer bone goes counter-clockwise (pulls
downward). These opposite forces react with each other
to create energy.
Blood is produced as a result of this interaction. We all know how important
our blood is--blood is responsible for carrying the breath of life to our
cells.
Calcium is important for the glandular system. Calcium
is needed for the production of hormones. For this reason women use 400
times more calcium than men. We need calcium
in our fluid system, too.
Because calcium is so important, the body will try to protect us at all costs
even if that means robbing calcium from the bones in order to keep
the blood calcium balanced.
Our bodies eliminate extra or used calcium
primarily through the bowels. Approximately 5/6ths of our excess calcium
is excreted through the bowels, while 1/6ths is excreted through the
kidneys. Suppose that 350 milligrams of calcium is absorbed through the
intestines, when the diet includes 800 mg. of calcium. Because we would
secrete or expel about 190 mg. though intestinal juices, we would have a
net absorption of 170 mg. of calcium. In other words, when the so-called
diet includes 800 mgs. of calcium, we would keep 170 mgs.
What causes
Calcium Deficiencies and Calcium-Related Health Problems?
Because
calcium is so important for our bodies, we want to know what causes calcium
deficiencies so we can prevent them. Because calcium is essential to
vitality, all health problems are related to calcium deficiency on some
level.
1. Calcium deficiency may be the result of
malfunctioning parathyroid glands. These glands regulate the calcium
needs of the body by sending out hormones which determine how much calcium
will be absorbed. If enough calcium has come in, less of the parathyroid
hormone is produced. This signals the intestines and kidneys to excrete more.
If there is a deficiency of calcium, the parathyroid hormone says in
effect, "Absorb more." If the necessary calcium is not available,
the
parathyroid goes to the bones to get it. This is not a problem unless the
body cannot replace the calcium in the bone as fast as the calcium is being
pulled out. If this happens, the bones begin to deteriorate. Therefore, the
parathyroids are very important for regulating calcium in the body.
If your parathyroids are not working properly, a clinical nutrition
assessment is essential to support them with the necessary other vitamins and
minerals that promote their proper function.
2. A deficiency or
overabundance of Vitamin D inhibits calcium metabolism, causing the
parathyroid to become hyper (overactive). This results in excessive hormone
production
which causes the body to pull calcium from the bones.
3.
Getting too much calcium causes the parathyroids to overproduce hormones in
order to suppress the calcium level. People get tired and say they don't feel
good when they don't have their calciums. These people say that taking
calcium picks them up.
Well, that is exactly what calcium does. It
kicks
the sympathetic nervous system in and activates the adrenals. Using calcium
as a stimulant is not balancing body chemistry. It is manipulating the body
instead of cooperating
with it. The results are this, at the same time that
the sympathetic nervous system is kicked in, the parasympathic nervous
system slows down. This results in slowing down both the digestive and
eliminating systems of the body. The metabolic action is slowed down, also,
so certain glands
become overworked and the body is thrown out of rhythm
and balance.
For example, excess calcium interferes with the kidneys ability to clean out fast enough. This results in deposits in the weakest areas and often stones form. Weak arteries and veins become the dumping ground for excess calcium.
Calcium deposits can show up anywhere. If a
person writes a lot, he/she can get bumps on certain fingers because the
areas are weakened by the continual pressure. Calcium deposits can occur in
the skeletal structure. Exercising and proper breathing helps move calcium
deposits out of the skeletal system.
4. Getting the wrong kinds of
calciums is a cause of calcium deficiency. There are over 250,000 different
kinds. Some calciums are organic (are essential to and can be used by
the body) and some are inorganic (cannot be utilized by the body).
Many
people don't understand this, though, and as a result, Calcium is probably
one of the most abused substances today
.
For example, calcium carbonate is an
inorganic salt which produces stones and is often seen advertised for bone
diseases, like osteoporosis.
People get the wrong calciums from
regular
well water. Ninety-five percent of these salts are
inorganic calciums that form stones and cause a multitude
of calcium-related health problems.
Calcium lactate, which is the
calcium
in milk causes calcium problems because it is so acid.
It grabs onto Vitamin
C and breaks down the elements which holds cells together. Muscles and
tissues lose their integrity and strength. Cheese also causes problems for
this reason.
Unfortunately, many people think Milk and cheese are the
only food sources for calcium. This is not true. At Advanced Clinical
Nutrition, you will receive a list of many other calcium-rich foods which
have a positive effects on body chemistry. (Note that Calcium Lactate can be
used positively
for a short-term effect therapeutically for specific
metabolic and biochemical purposes, but only under the direction of
a certified clinical nutritionist.)
Many people can understand why calcium deficiency can result by taking the wrong type of calcium or taking too much or too little of the right type of calcium.
However, they may not be aware
that even if they are taking the right amounts of the right calcium, when
that calcium is not metabolized, the result is still the same as when
taking the wrong amounts or the wrong calcium, i.e., calcium deficiency and
calcium-related health problems.
5. Imbalances in the vitamins and
minerals that work with calcium also leads to calcium deficiencies and
related health concerns.
For example, too much potassium prevents calcium absorption. Sodium, Magnesium, Vitamin D are also needed in the right ratio with calcium for calcium to be absorbed, utilized and metabolized properly. Too much Phosphorous forces calcium out of the body. Some foods high in phosphorous are sea foods (especially shrimp), yeast, breads, macaroni, pot pies, potatoes and overcooked foods.
On the other hand,
deficient amounts of Phosphorous also causes calcium deficiencies. Soft
Drinks, for example, leech Phosphorous out of your body, and drinking soft
drinks with
your meals causes too much alkalinity in the stomach
thus neutralizing stomach acids excreted to digest the foods eaten.
Poor
digestion prevents all nutrients from getting to the cells and results in a
variety of nutrient deficiencies,calcium and phosphorous to name a few.
Overcooking food changes organic calcium to inorganic, leaving just
the phosphorus. This then leads to an imbalance between phosphorous and
calcium.
A clinical nutritionist can
analyses your vitamin and mineral ratio
levels and determine if you have sufficient amounts of the vitamins and
minerals
that affect calcium metabolism. Without sufficient levels
of these vitamin and minerals, calcium deficiency will result.
6. Acid
foods pull calcium out of the body. Sugar, salt, and over processed foods are
the worst offenders. Because the body has to stay balanced, acid foods force
the body to pull from
its alkaline reserves to neutralize the acids. The
result is an overacid body.
7. Taking alkaline calciums can cause the
body to become too alkaline and taking acid calciums can cause the body to
become too acid. When the pH of the body is too alkaline, it causes stiff
joints, bowel toxicity, circulatory problems, muscle
cramps, diarrhea, and
lowered resistance to diseases from micro-organisms.
When the pH of the body
is too acid, it can produce stomach ulcers, dry skin, diminished urination,
bad breath, hard stools, increased heart beats, cold sweats, diminished
perspiration, etc. A balanced pH (correct ratio of alkaline/acid pH) is
essential to good health and calcium metabolism.
8. Stress is another
cause of calcium deficiency, from which few of us escape. If you are already
calcium deficient, Stress forces the body to use both available calcium and
the calcium
from your bones to deal with the Stress, which
further perpetuates a calcium deficiency problem.
Stress pulls Calcium
directly of the calcium reserves. Because our society is one where few of us
escape stress, everyone can benefit
from having their need for calcium
assessed professionally.
For those who live relatively stress-free lives, we
find their calcium needs are less.
To recap, clinical studies at
Advanced Clinical Nutrition have yet to report sufficient calcium levels and
a balanced calcium metabolism in new clients who regularly take
calcium
supplements.
Clinical reports indicate that calcium
supplement users are either taking the wrong type of calcium, the
wrong amounts (too much/too little) and/or not metabolizing the calcium
taken.
Yes, there is a solution to preventing calcium-related
health problems. The first step is to have your blood and
urine nutritionally analyzed and then be assessed for the right type
and
amount of calcium for your body chemistry, in addition to the other
vitamins/minerals for which
Calcium depends for its metabolism, e.g.,
phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium,
vitamin D, etc. You will then be
provided specific dietary and lifestyle instructions on how to prevent
calcium deficiencies, and calcium-related health problems.
Some foods leech
calcium out of your body whereas others supply calcium which the body can
assimilate, as well as assist in its metabolism. To understand the role of
calcium and the eight common causes of calcium deficiencies allows us to
enjoy health by cooperating, instead of interfering, with our calcium
metabolism.
If you are currently taking calcium supplements, it
is essential for you to be nutritionally tested by a certified clinical
nutritionist or naturopathic doctor. You may be surprised to learn that the
calcium supplements you have been taking have worked against you instead of
for you.
Even if you have received some positive symptom relief
by adding a calcium supplement to your diet, the long-term affects of
taking calcium supplements may work against you if you have
not be assessed
for the right type and amount of calcium supplementation. Problems occur when
one assumes that simply taking a calcium supplement is all that is require to
attain adequate calcium in the body.
For information regarding how you
may receive a clinical nutrition analysis of your calcium and other
related chemistries visit our web site at www.womensportsnutrition.com.
Though this web site specializes in
women's health issue and sports nutrition for women, our services available
for both men
and women of all ages. You may also address specific
questions to our e-mail address: wsnqas@aol.com
Written by Donna F. Smith, free
lance health and nutrition writer/reporter and public speaker and owner of
Advanced Clinical Nutrition, Wichita Falls, Texas.E-mail:
wsnctr1@aol.com
Article courtesy of http://www.naturalhealthworld.com
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Revised: 06-28-05:43:25 -0400 .
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