CALCIUM

For Strong Bones

Calcium is essential for human life. It makes up bones and teeth and is crucial to enable messages to be conducted along nerves. It is also important in the maintenance of the immune system. It is 

Role in the Body

Calcium plays a very important role in the maintenance of health. It is essential for the proper development of bones and teeth. It is necessary for the normal action of the heart and all muscle activity. It aids the clotting process of the blood and stimulates enzymes in the digestive process.

It is required for proper foetal growth, for normal health of the mother during pregnancy and lactation, and for the secretion of breast milk. 

Sources

Milk and milk products are the most important sources of calcium in readily available form. Green vegetables such as cassia, amaranth, turnip greens, cauliflower, carrots, and leaves of colocasia, drumsticks, fenugreek, and radishes are excellent sources of calcium

Deficiency Symptoms

Deficiency of calcium causes changes in the bones and muscles. Calcium-deficient people look pale and listless, get tired, and become lazy. They are more sensitive to cold weather. They become nervous and suffer from mental derangements. Sweating around the head even during cold weather is the most obvious symptom of calcium deficiency in all ages. Deficiency of calcium may cause porous and fragile bones, tooth decay, heart palpitations, muscle cramps, insomnia, and irritability.

Healing and Therapeutic Properties

A large increase in the dietary supply of calcium is needed in tetany (a condition marked by abnormal excitability of the nerves and muscles), and when the bones are decalcified due to poor calcium absorption, as happens in tetany, rickets, and osteomalacia. A liberal quantity of calcium is also necessary when excessive calcium has been lost from the body, as in hyperparathyroidism (over-action of the parathyroid gland) or chronic kidney disease

Insomnia. Insomnia can frequently be dispelled by increased intake of calcium, because it causes the nerves and muscles to relax. Those who do not sleep well are advised to take three calcium tablets with a glass of warm milk on retiring. This is said to bring a sound, refreshing sleep.

Menopause. Calcium has been found useful in menopausal disorders. During menopause, a lack of ovarian hormones can result in a severe calcium deficiency. A larger than usual intake of calcium may therefore help greatly. Hot flushes, night sweats, leg cramps, irritability, nervousness and mental depression associated with this condition can be overcome by giving liberal quantities of this mineral.

Cramps and General Irritability. Relatively quick results from intake of calcium in therapeutic doses (between 600 and 1,200 mg) have been reported in conditions involving irritability of the nerves and muscle such as in menstrual cramps, leg cramps, and general irritability. In these cases, calcium seems to do its work by swiftly moving into the bloodstream and soft tissues of the body.

Arthritis. Studies have shown that arthritis can be relieved by a liberal intake of calcium. Several patients suffering from this disease discovered that their joint pains were either relieved or stopped completely after taking this mineral in therapeutic doses. This treatment should be continued for at least four months to achieve beneficial results.

Precautions :

Excessive daily intake of calcium over 2,000 mg may lead to hypercalcaemia.