Calcium

Role of Calcium in your body

About 99% of our calcium is found in bone structures. However, calcium is essential for 4 other critical roles:

1. Cell Membrane Regulation - affecting cell permeability, muscle contraction and nerve impulse conduction.
2. Body Fluid Regulation - affecting blood clotting, acidity and alkalinity
3. Regulation of cell division
4. Regulation of hormone secretion - insulin

Function 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.

Calcium Deficiency Symptoms: fast oxidation, muscle cramps and spasms, tooth decay, irritability, nervousness, anxiety, fight-flight reaction, insomnia, bruising, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, increased tendency to absorb lead and cadmium.

Symptoms Associated with a Calcium Excess: Slow oxidation, fatigue, apathy, depression-mental, withdrawal-social, kidney stones, gall stones, arthritis, hardening of arteries, constipation.

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.

Hair Analysis Notes:

High calcium usually indicates that calcium is leaving the bones and accumulating in the soft tissues of the body. High calcium is associated with a slow oxidation rate and is a good indicator of hidden copper toxicity. High calcium on a retest often means the body is eliminating excess calcium.

Low calcium levels usually means calcium is being lost in the urine. Low calcium is also associated with a fast oxidation rate - alarm stage of stress. Low calcium is often associated with copper deficiency.

Reasons for Calcium Supplementation: To slow the oxidation rate, to help detoxify lead and cadmium, to balance key mineral ratios.

Sources:

Seafood - sardines, caviar, smelt
Nuts/seeds - almonds, sesame seeds, filberts
Vegetables - kale, collards, mustard greens, turnip green, green vegetables, dandelion greens, soybeans, celery, broccoli
Miscellaneous - molasses, kelp, brewer's yeast, torula yeast
Fruits - oranges, strawberries, raspberries, prunes,
Herbs - comfrey leaves, coltsfoot, chamomile, blackstrap molasses, figs, watercress. broccoli, olives.

Vitamins used to lower Calcium:
vitamin C
Vitamins used to raise Calcium:
vitamin D

The Effects of Calcium on Personality

Key words: Physical stability

Low Calcium: emotionally unstable,irritable, hyperkinetic behavior, nervous, short tempered, tense, unable to slow down, extroverted, lack of psychological buffering or defense mechanisms

High Calcium: rigid, defensive, withdrawn, calcium shell, introverted, sluggish, numbed, tired

Interaction Chart