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 |
Symptoms Associated With A Calcium Deficiency
| alarm or fight-flight reaction | irritability |
| anxiety | muscle cramps and spasms |
| bruising | nervousness |
| "fast" oxidation | osteoporosis |
| high blood pressure | tooth decay |
| insomnia |
Symptoms Associated With A Calcium Excess
| apathy | gall stones |
| arthritis | hardening of arteries |
| constipation | kidney stones |
| depression, mental | 'slow' oxidation |
| fatigue | withdrawal, social |
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 Hair 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
- good indicator of hidden copper toxicity
- high calcium on a retest often means the body is eliminating excess calcium
Low Hair Calcium:
- a low calcium level usually means calcium is being lost in the urine
- associated with fast oxidation rate - alarm stage of stress
- 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
This material is for educational purposes only
The preceding statements have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Copyright © 2012 -2019 - The Eck Institute of Applied Nutrition and Bioenergetics, Ltd.