Did you know that calcium can give a disease? Calcium deficiency and excess calcium are both dangerous

Food 'DO' Healthy

Calcium

Why we need Calcium?

• Calcium is a mineral in our body that is available from many foods. Calcium is a nutrient needed by all living organisms. It is an abundant mineral in the body and is essential for bone strength. Most of the calcium in our body is in our bones and teeth. Calcium is also present in the fluid between our blood, muscles, other body tissues, and cells.
• It is also essential for maintaining healthy communication between the brain and other parts of the body. It plays a role in muscle movement and heart function. Every cell and cell in our body uses calcium in some way. Our body contains calcium in the nervous system, muscles, heart, and bones. Our bones provide strength to our bodies and store extra calcium. As we age, our bodies absorb more calcium from our bones because they absorb less calcium from our diet.

• Our body wants to keep the right amount of calcium in our body. This size allows the cells in our body to stay healthy and do the work necessary for life. When the level of calcium in our blood is lower than normal, our parathyroid glands release a hormone called parathyroid (PTH).
• We get vitamin D naturally from the foods we eat and from our skin. PTH stimulates vitamin D, which enhances intestinal calcium absorption. Vitamin D is usually obtained from sunlight. Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium from the gut, so Vitamin D helps build strong bones. When we have too little vitamin D, it can lead to adult rickets called osteomalacia.
•  If our body does not get enough calcium and vitamin D, it will take calcium from our bones. This is called bone weight loss.
• When bone weight loss occurs the interior of our bones becomes weaker and thinner. This leads to osteoporosis, also known as osteoporosis.

Benefits of calcium:

• Bone health
• Muscle contraction
• Sending and receiving nerve signals
• Cardiovascular system
• Helps in proper movement of blood vessels and muscles.
• Helps the body release hormones and enzymes that keep it functioning properly.
• Helps control important nutrients such as magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.

Who is at risk for calcium deficiency in the body?

• Women who do not menstruate properly.
• People who do not eat dairy products or are lactose intolerant.
• Those who do not eat curry, fish, or dairy products (vegetarians).
• Those who take certain medications for osteoporosis.
• People with parathyroid disorders, people with liver or inflammatory bowel disease, or kidney disease.

Getting more calcium than our body needs can have negative effects.

• These include kidney stones, frequent urination, abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, and fatigue.
• It is rare to get high levels of calcium from food alone.
• Excess calcium intake also increases the risk of high blood pressure.