| Calcium is absorbed in the small intestine; | | | | of fifty up to 25 per cent of the skeleton |
| this process is dependent on vitamin D. To | | | | could be missing due to Osteoporosis, this |
| provide the rigid structure of the skeleton | | | | can increase the risk of bone fractures, loss |
| calcium is vital, around about 3lb of the | | | | of height and formation of a "dowager's hump" |
| body's weight is calcium, 99 per cent being | | | | all due to the soft and thinning bones. This |
| in the teeth and bones. It is important in | | | | will affect one in three women and one in |
| growing children to help bones grow and the | | | | twelve men by the age of seventy. |
| elderly as the ability to absorb calcium | | | | |
| becomes impaired with age. Together with | | | | The conventional explanation of why |
| magnesium it is needed for nerves and muscles | | | | Osteoporosis affects women of a certain age |
| to function properly. It also helps to | | | | more than men is that once a women stops |
| maintain the right acid/alkaline balance and | | | | menstruating she produces only a small amount |
| blood to clot. An adult needs a daily calcium | | | | of the oestrogen which helps to keep calcium |
| intake of between 700 and 1000mg. Those at | | | | in her bones. This is why women are |
| risk of osteoporosis may need as much as | | | | recommended to take hormone replacement |
| 1500mg a day. This protection is boosted when | | | | therapy (HRT). This is not the case as |
| combined with linoleic acid from evening | | | | research has shown that Progesterone |
| primrose oil. Calcium and phosphorus work | | | | stimulate osteoblasts to produce new bone and |
| together on a ratio of two to one for healthy | | | | that by taking Progesterone it increases bone |
| teeth and bones and calcium and magnesium | | | | density by four times, oestrogen which |
| work together for cardiovascular health. The | | | | stimulates osteoclast cells only stops the |
| two most deficient minerals in a women's diet | | | | loss of old bone. |
| are calcium and iron. | | | | |
| | | | A women stops ovulating in the time before |
| Calcium supplements have shown to protect | | | | and after the menopause. Even though the body |
| against pre-eclampsia which is high blood | | | | still produces a little amount of oestrogen |
| pressure in pregnancy. It is a good idea to | | | | if no ovum is released then no progesterone |
| increase calcium consumption during the last | | | | is produced. Scientists now believe that it |
| three months of pregnancy and the first few | | | | is the deficiency of progesterone not |
| months of lactation to ensure that the baby | | | | oestrogen that is precipitating osteoporosis. |
| get sufficient amount of calcium to help bone | | | | |
| development and growth. If the baby doesn't | | | | This is not the only factor in the cause of |
| get enough calcium from its mother, it will | | | | osteoporosis; diet is also a strong factor |
| be withdrawn from the mothers bones, possibly | | | | which is why it is uncommon in some cultural |
| leading to bone disease in the future. | | | | groups. The lack of calcium in the diet is |
| | | | thought not to have a huge baring on |
| Signs of calcium deficiency are rickets, | | | | osteoporosis, in fact the Bantu tribes of |
| osteomalacia and osteoporosis. | | | | Africa have on average a calcium intake of |
| | | | 400mg and their women suffer little |
| Calcium like sodium and potassium contribute | | | | osteoporosis whereas the Eskimos have a |
| to both extracellular and intracellular cell | | | | substantial higher intake of calcium in their |
| environment. Calcium is also needed as | | | | diet but their women suffer from high |
| intercellular cement to keep the cells of the | | | | incidents of osteoporosis. The problem seems |
| body together. It also controls fluid to | | | | to be too much dietary protein.? |
| allow enzyme reaction to take place. Calcium | | | | |
| is vital for the contraction of muscle. The | | | | The Eskimos have more protein in their diet |
| brain sends nerve impulses that release | | | | than the Bantu tribes. Protein-rich foods are |
| calcium in the muscle which triggers muscle | | | | acid-forming. The body cannot tolerate acid |
| reactions. Calcium also helps to control | | | | level changes and it uses the alkaline agents |
| cholesterol. | | | | - sodium and calcium to neutralise the acid |
| | | | effect. When all the sodium reserves are used |
| Calcium helps in the process of secretion, | | | | up by the body it takes calcium from the |
| bile, pancreatic fluid, gastric, intestinal, | | | | bones. This is why a high protein acid |
| hormonal and mucous all rely on calcium to | | | | forming diet leads to calcium deficiency and |
| move the small droplets through the cells | | | | may also be the primary cause of |
| boundaries and cell walls. | | | | osteoporosis. This may well explain why |
| | | | vegetarian women suffer less from |
| The AMP (adenosine monophosphate) is calcium | | | | osteoporosis. In fact vegetarians in general |
| dependent. This maintains the balance of | | | | need less calcium than those who eat meat |
| proteins in the body. | | | | because of the reduce intake of protein. |
| | | | |
| Calcium is also needed in the release of | | | | Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which are found in |
| neurotransmitter. These are vital for a | | | | fish oil and evening primrose oil if taken in |
| proper functioning nervous system. | | | | large doses increase the absorption of |
| | | | calcium from the gut like vitamin D does. Not |
| Calcium is one of the 'buffers' in blood that | | | | only do they increase calcium absorption but |
| helps to keep the levels of acid/alkaline. | | | | they also reduce calcium loss in the urine. |
| Calcium levels in the blood are affected by | | | | PUFAs prevent the abnormal deposition of |
| hormones. If levels drop then Tetany could | | | | calcium in soft tissue and increase calcium |
| occur; this is a condition that causes | | | | levels in bones. PUFAs can help with the bone |
| tremors and involuntary contractions of the | | | | loss at menopause. |
| muscles. | | | | |
| | | | In summary, calcium is a very important |
| Osteoporosis, which means "porous bones", is | | | | mineral in the diet especially with women at |
| at epidemic proportions particularly in women | | | | menopausal age. It can stop the onset of |
| after the menopause. It is a painful and | | | | osteoporosis and reduce bone loss and |
| potentially crippling disease which is due to | | | | fragility. It is also important for pregnant |
| the loss of calcium in the bones. By the age | | | | women, growing children and the elderly. |