Calcium: Strong Bones, Healthy Teeth
Calcium (Ca)
For humans – strong bones, healthy teeth.
Calcium is widely distributed in nature, and there is a lot of it in the human body. We constantly need to intake this element. Even the Assyrians used crushed swallow beaks, rich in calcium, for physical strength, hand hardness, endurance, and as a remedy for hangovers.
The daily requirement for calcium for an adult is 800–1500 mg per day. In children, calcium is renewed every 1–2 years, while in adults it is renewed every 10–12 years.
The bioavailability of calcium from food is 25–40%.
The calcium content in the body is about 1.9% of body weight (1000–1200 g). About 25–40% of the consumed calcium is absorbed and enters the replenishable calcium pool. This pool consists of a small amount of calcium in biological fluids (intracellular calcium, blood calcium, and tissue fluid) and constitutes 1% of the total calcium in the body. The remaining 99% of calcium is found in bone tissues, incorporated into dentin and tooth enamel. In an adult, the extracellular calcium pool is renewed 20–30 times a day, while in bones it is renewed every 5–6 years.
The kidneys filter approximately 8.6 g/day, almost all of which is reabsorbed, and only 100 to 200 mg is excreted in urine.
The absorption of calcium in the intestine, reabsorption by the kidneys, and renewal in bones are directly regulated by parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, and vitamin D.
The kidneys filter approximately 8.6 g/day, almost all of which is reabsorbed, and only 100 to 200 mg is excreted in urine.
The absorption of calcium in the intestine, reabsorption by the kidneys, and renewal in bones are directly regulated by parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, and vitamin D.
Biological role in the human body. Calcium forms the basis of bone tissue, participates in metabolism, nerve impulse transmission processes, ensures balance between excitation and inhibition processes in the cerebral cortex, regulates the contractility of skeletal muscles and the heart muscle, influences the acid-base balance of the body, and the activity of a number of enzymes.
Calcium is involved in metabolism, hematopoiesis, increases the body’s resistance to infections and toxins.
Calcium is necessary for the functioning of cell membranes, the operation of the cell’s nuclear apparatus, helps stabilize mast cells, and inhibits the release of histamine, thereby reducing the manifestations of allergic reactions, pain syndrome, and inflammatory processes. It is a factor in blood coagulation, lowers blood cholesterol, and participates in the formation of the immune response.
It is important to emphasize the special role of calcium as a factor in intracellular signaling.
Insufficient intake of calcium in the body increases the excretion of calcium from bones into the blood, causing demineralization of bones and osteoporosis. The need for it significantly increases in pregnant women and nursing mothers.
It has been experimentally proven that proponents of raw food do not know such a disease of bone tissue as osteoporosis, nor do they suffer from arthrosis or radiculitis, as they do not subject vegetables and fruits to heat treatment. During thermal processing, organic calcium converts to inorganic and is not absorbed by the body.
However, calcium in milk is absorbed while we drink it raw, especially fresh. Pasteurized processed milk, as well as yogurt and other dairy products, like baby formulas, contain calcium already in an inorganic poorly absorbable form.
Calcium is involved in metabolism, hematopoiesis, increases the body’s resistance to infections and toxins.
Calcium is necessary for the functioning of cell membranes, the operation of the cell’s nuclear apparatus, helps stabilize mast cells, and inhibits the release of histamine, thereby reducing the manifestations of allergic reactions, pain syndrome, and inflammatory processes. It is a factor in blood coagulation, lowers blood cholesterol, and participates in the formation of the immune response.
It is important to emphasize the special role of calcium as a factor in intracellular signaling.
Insufficient intake of calcium in the body increases the excretion of calcium from bones into the blood, causing demineralization of bones and osteoporosis. The need for it significantly increases in pregnant women and nursing mothers.
It has been experimentally proven that proponents of raw food do not know such a disease of bone tissue as osteoporosis, nor do they suffer from arthrosis or radiculitis, as they do not subject vegetables and fruits to heat treatment. During thermal processing, organic calcium converts to inorganic and is not absorbed by the body.
However, calcium in milk is absorbed while we drink it raw, especially fresh. Pasteurized processed milk, as well as yogurt and other dairy products, like baby formulas, contain calcium already in an inorganic poorly absorbable form.
An important factor in calcium metabolism disorders can be diseases of the thyroid gland or kidney diseases, as well as osteoporosis, pancreatitis. An excess of phosphorus, lead, zinc, cobalt, magnesium, iron, potassium, sodium in the body leads to calcium deficiency, and the same result can be caused by the use of diuretics.
The excretion of calcium from the body is enhanced when consuming an excessive amount of acidic substances, during acidosis.
The excretion of calcium from the body is enhanced when consuming an excessive amount of acidic substances, during acidosis.
Synergists and antagonists of calcium. An excess of calcium in the body leads to a deficiency of zinc and phosphorus.
Calcium is a physiological antagonist of magnesium and is in competitive relations with phosphorus in regulating the formation of the mineral matrix of bone.
Calcium prevents the accumulation of lead in bone tissue.
Calcium, primarily found in bone tissue, is similar in properties to strontium and barium, thus their ions can replace it in bones.
Together with vitamins A, C, D3, F, the level of calcium in the body can be increased by the following elements: iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, silicon, iodine, as well as protein, gastric juice (HCl), pancreatic enzymes, and Lactobacillus acidophilus.
Lead, cadmium, aluminum, magnesium, unsaturated fatty acids, excessive consumption of sugar, protein, thyroid dysfunction, and vitamin D deficiency lead to a decrease in calcium levels in the body.
In an iodine-rich environment (calcium synergists), for example, in the oceans, animals and plants living there have record mass and long lifespan (sea turtles live for 2–3 centuries). It has been noted that livestock in coastal areas differs in size and developed skeleton. Thus, iodine and calcium can work wonders in the lives of biological subjects when acting together.
However, thermal processing of fish destroys the vitamin D3 and iodine present in it, and to preserve valuable substances, it is better to eat fish that is dried, smoked, or salted, as the peoples of the North do.
Calcium is a physiological antagonist of magnesium and is in competitive relations with phosphorus in regulating the formation of the mineral matrix of bone.
Calcium prevents the accumulation of lead in bone tissue.
Calcium, primarily found in bone tissue, is similar in properties to strontium and barium, thus their ions can replace it in bones.
Together with vitamins A, C, D3, F, the level of calcium in the body can be increased by the following elements: iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, silicon, iodine, as well as protein, gastric juice (HCl), pancreatic enzymes, and Lactobacillus acidophilus.
Lead, cadmium, aluminum, magnesium, unsaturated fatty acids, excessive consumption of sugar, protein, thyroid dysfunction, and vitamin D deficiency lead to a decrease in calcium levels in the body.
In an iodine-rich environment (calcium synergists), for example, in the oceans, animals and plants living there have record mass and long lifespan (sea turtles live for 2–3 centuries). It has been noted that livestock in coastal areas differs in size and developed skeleton. Thus, iodine and calcium can work wonders in the lives of biological subjects when acting together.
However, thermal processing of fish destroys the vitamin D3 and iodine present in it, and to preserve valuable substances, it is better to eat fish that is dried, smoked, or salted, as the peoples of the North do.
Signs of calcium deficiency: joint pain, brittle nails, eczema, elevated blood cholesterol levels, rapid pulse, hypertension, insomnia, muscle spasms, nervousness, numbness of hands or feet, pallor of the face, rheumatoid arthritis, rickets, and tooth decay, weakening of mental abilities, seizures, depression.
It is used for the prevention of osteoporosis, regulation of CNS function, in cases of insufficient parathyroid gland function, allergic diseases (serum sickness, urticaria, angioedema, hay fever), to reduce vascular permeability (hemorrhagic vasculitis, radiation sickness phenomena, inflammatory and exudative processes), in skin diseases (eczema, psoriasis), in chronic hepatitis, toxic liver damage, as a hemostatic agent in bleeding, as an antidote in poisoning with oxalic and hydrofluoric acid salts.
It is used for the prevention of osteoporosis, regulation of CNS function, in cases of insufficient parathyroid gland function, allergic diseases (serum sickness, urticaria, angioedema, hay fever), to reduce vascular permeability (hemorrhagic vasculitis, radiation sickness phenomena, inflammatory and exudative processes), in skin diseases (eczema, psoriasis), in chronic hepatitis, toxic liver damage, as a hemostatic agent in bleeding, as an antidote in poisoning with oxalic and hydrofluoric acid salts.
An increase in calcium content in hair is observed in people with hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, nephrocalcinosis, as well as those suffering from chronic alcoholic hepatitis and having traumatic brain injuries. Increased calcium content is noted in children with cerebral palsy and autism.
Calcium is necessary: in case of disturbances in ossification processes, increased bleeding tendency, neuroses, tuberculosis, hyperergic reactions.
Indications for the necessity of calcium application include malnutrition, moist skin, frequent colds, poor tolerance to cold, dairy products, eggs, and weak stools.
Indications for the necessity of calcium application include malnutrition, moist skin, frequent colds, poor tolerance to cold, dairy products, eggs, and weak stools.
Food sources of calcium: nuts and seeds: sesame, poppy, almond, Brazil nut, sunflower seeds, pistachios, hazelnuts; dried fruits: dried figs; dairy products (milk – 120 mg%, cottage cheese – 80 mg%); salmon (with bones); seafood, particularly brown algae laminaria (seaweed); leafy green vegetables (fodder cabbage), asparagus; herbs: basil, parsley greens, watercress, rhubarb stalks, arugula, dill, wild garlic, garlic greens, spinach; yeast; dishes made from oat groats.
Among plant products, nuts and seeds are the richest in calcium (the champion in calcium content is sesame), legumes: beans, soybeans, peas; parsley greens – up to 354 mg per 100 g of product. Sources of calcium also include green peas, beets, celery, radishes, black radishes, turnips (root vegetables), horseradish, garlic, tops of young turnips, lemon peel.
The consumption of lingonberries, gooseberries, plums, persimmons, beets contributes to calcium intake in the body.
There is also a lot of calcium in mushrooms, but during boiling or frying, organic calcium converts to a form that is not absorbed by the body. Only in salted mushrooms, after cold salting due to long soaking before salting, organic calcium is preserved and is absorbable. It is no coincidence that the inhabitants of the shores of Lake Onega and the surrounding Kargopol region were known for their excellent health – they consumed fresh saffron milk caps, lightly sprinkled with salt, rich in organic calcium. The development of their skeleton and muscle mass was passed down in their genes, and therefore during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, strong, well-built boys from Kargopol were recruited for the guard.
Calcium salts are absorbed only in combination with phosphorus salts. Products that contain both calcium and phosphorus include cottage cheese and industrial cheeses; from plant foods, these are radishes, celery, salad.
The best source of calcium is eggshells (the color of the shell does not matter), and quail eggshells contain significantly more calcium compared to chicken eggshells. It consists of 90% calcium carbonate and, unlike chalk, is absorbed almost 100% because the process of forming organic calcium from inorganic has already occurred in the bird’s body. The shell is also rich in other mineral elements: copper, fluorine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, selenium, zinc, etc. – a total of 27 elements.