Calcium Deficiency

"Let food be your medicine and your medicine be your food. Each one of the substances in a person's diet, acts upon the body and changes it in some way, and upon these changes the whole life depends, whether in health, in sickness or convalescent."  

Hippocrates 2 000 years ago.

A calcium deficiency can affect us in so many ways from cancer to osteoporosis, to high blood pressure, to epilepsy.

Let's start at the very beginning by looking at the reasons why we need calcium and the problems that a calcium deficiency can cause.

Why we need Calcium.

Calcium is important for the smooth functioning of nerves and muscles. Calcium is a vital component of bones and teeth which contain 99% of the body's total calcium. The other 1% plays an equally important role in the body, both in cell structure and function, as well as in the blood, where it aids clotting. Calcium is important in the maintenance of a regular heartbeat.

Calcium lowers cholesterol. It prevents bone loss associated with Osteoporosis. Calcium helps keep the skin healthy.

Warnings

• Too much salt (sodium) could help destroy your bones by robbing them of calcium especially in elderly women at high risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.
  
  
• Avoid the intake of caffeine it promotes the excretion of calcium resulting in a calcium deficiency.
  

How do you know if you have a Calcium Deficiency?

Listed below are some of the symptoms you might experience should you be suffering from a calcium deficiency.

muscle cramps muscle weakness back pain soft and brittle bones fractures and osteoporosis brittle nails eczema heart palpitations insomnia nervousness Pasty complexion rheumatoid arthritis rickets Tooth decay

Calcium Deficiency and High Blood Pressure

Studies have shown that an adequate calcium intake can cancel the blood pressure raising effects of sodium in some people. Calcium and potassium as well, help the blood vessels relax. When the blood vessels relax, they open up and give blood the room it needs to move calmly and easily on its important journey through the body.

How do you know if you have a Calcium Deficiency?

Ever woken up in the middle of the night with an excruciating cramp in one of the calves of your leg?

Then you probably know that the first thing to do is to quickly and continuously move your big toe backwards.

But prevention is better than cure. One of the reasons for these cramps could be a calcium deficiency. So top up your calcium intake by looking at natural sources of calcium, but also don't ignore a possible potassium deficiency or even a magnesium deficiency.

Calcium and Dental Health

Just as much as what your bones need calcium, so do your teeth. Our Dentist explained that "without calcium, teeth won't form" and in adults, calcium fortifies the bone that support the teeth, so they don't loosen over time.

Calcium Deficiency and Natural Diuretics

Diuretics are prescribed specifically to lower blood pressure and to treat heart failure.

Diuretics reduce fluid and salt in the body but unfortunately many diuretics also stimulate calcium excretion.

They may also cause excessive amount of potassium to be lost. If you are taking diuretics, it is important to eat plenty of food sources containing potassium, like bananas and potatoes as well as calcium supplements, or even take a look at natural diuretics.

Calcium Shortage and Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disorder triggered by imbalances in the brain's electrical system. Certain minerals like magnesium, zinc and calcium have all been found to help in preventing convulsions in some people.

Calcium Deficiency and Gout Home Remedies

If you suffer from continual bouts of gout you must ensure that, added to other gout home remedies, you are getting enough calcium.

Calcium and Kidney Stones Home Remedies

It was always a warning issued to kidney stone sufferers to limit calcium intake. Recent studies have found that getting more calcium can actually prevent kidney stones as shown in kidney stones home remedies.

Calcium and Menopause

Oily fish are an excellent source of this vitamin and tinned sardines also include edible bones which are rich in calcium.

Menopausal women need more calcium to help slow down loss of bone mass. The best dietary sources of calcium are dairy products and green leafy vegetable. In order to absorb calcium efficiently the body needs vitamin D. Cut down on tea and coffee because they promote the excretion of calcium.

Calcium and Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a progressive disease in which the bones gradually become weaker and weaker. The term osteoporosis, derived from Latin, literally means "porous bones." A diagnosis of osteoporosis is reached by measuring bone density, a non-invasive procedure.

• The link between calcium and osteoporosis is highly significant and a full study is underway for ways and means of helping with osteoporosis naturally and will be added to this website once it is complete.

Calcium and PMS

• PMS is a disorder that affects many women on the days leading up to menstruation.
• This has always been a target for great amusement especially amongst husbands and partners, who do not understand that women can suffer really badly with symptoms which include anxiety, breast swelling, depression, insomnia, water retention and drastic mood swings.
• It is possible that there is more than one cause for PMS but studies have shown that both calcium and magnesium supplements are effective for managing symptoms of PMS, precisely how calcium fits into the complex puzzle of PMS, is however, unclear.

Magnesium Deficiency

Insomnia

Natural Calcium Supplements 

Natural calcium supplements are actually quite easy to find in many different foods and herbal sources.

Calcium is vital to all of us, young and old, for the formation and maintenance of strong bones and teeth.

A calcium deficiency can lead to so many unpleasant problems such as aching joints, heart palpitations, tooth decay, muscle cramps and many many more.

Natural Calcium Food Supplements

The content of calcium in the herbs listed below is very small, and should not officially be considered as a supplement.

It is therefore quite important to note the other medicinal qualities of the herb, so that you will be getting small doses of calcium, but will be reaping other benefits simultaneously.

Dandelion  is a natural diuretic as well as being a source of calcium and potassium. Alfalfa is also a natural antibiotic and a natural blood thinner. Burdock can be added to the list of natural calcium supplements as well as been a natural diuretics and  a blood purifier. Cayenne, is an excellent digestive aid, it helps improve the circulation at the same time that it is giving you some natural calcium supplements.

Alfalfa Cayenne Pepper

Chamomile Tea Eyebright

Chamomile is so well known as a nervous aid, and together with it been an outstanding digestive aid,  it's calcium content is often forgotten.  It also aids in relieving constipation. Chickweed can also be used to help with your calcium intake and it  has anti-rheumatoid properties. Eyebright not only contains small doses of calcium, but can "up" your zinc and selenium intake as well.

Fennel Parsley

Fennel Seed is another herb useful for its calcium content, and can also be  used as a natural anti-inflammatory. Hops first rate for nervous tension and irritable bowel syndrome. Parsley - good old faithful parsley, not only decorates food very nicely, but is also a very competent digestive aid, helps remove the smell of garlic on your breath and is a superfine laxative.

Peppermint is very good for heartburn and also as a home remedy for constipation. Red Clover has expectorant qualities which means it helps to loosen phlegm and is really good for when you have bronchitis. Yarrow, along with its natural sources of calcium, it is also useful for colds and flu and people suffering from tuberculosis. Yellow Dock is a purgative, a laxative and also contains iron for those suffering from anemia.

Peppermint Tea Yellow Dock

And lastly... some really interesting facts about our Bones.

• There are 106 bones in our hands and feet, which is more than half the total number of bones in the body.
  
  
• There are 206 bones in an adult skeleton.
  
  
• The skull is made up of 22 bones.  The only skull bone that can move freely is the lower jawbone.
  
  
• The stapes is the smallest bone and is found inside the ear.
  
  
• The femur or thighbone is the longest, biggest and strongest bone in our body - and it is hollow.
  
  
• Bones are made up of two main ingredients - calcium (which makes bones hard and durable) and collagen (which makes them strong but also little flexible).

YOUR NATURAL MEDICINE CHEST

What to Keep in your Medicine Chest

Arnica

Keep a tube of this cream for relief for muscle strains as well as bruises.

Calendula

Get this from your health shop in a cream or gel form and use as a salve for burns, cuts, scrapes and insect bites

Chammomile

Use the dried flowers to make a tea and use for stressful situations and also stomach upsets.

Echinacea

You can get these at your health shop as an  extracts or capsuled and use for colds, flu, cuts, infections and scrapes.

Eucalyptus

An absolute must for your herbal medicine chest for respiratory congestion and muscle soreness.

Ginger

Use this herb as a fresh root from your veggie store, or if you like gardening, grow them, it is an excellent medication for colds, respiratory congestion, nausea and stomach upsets

Lavender

Keep Lavender as an essential oil for stress, insomnia and headaches.

Sea Salt

Gargle with this salt for sore throats and also for bath salts.

Tea Tree

Use as an essential oil for skin infections and insect bites.

Valerian

Use as an extract for mild pain relief and insomnia

Find out how the many ways one can prepare herbs for usage.

A-Z of Ailments and the Herb that can be used to help the symptoms.

An uncomplicated way of understanding the terminology used in this website.

Natural Laxatives for daily use and also for when there is an emergency.

Healing Plants A comprehensive list of Healing Plants which highlights a specific medical action and links all the applicable common herbs to that action.

Natural Antibiotics Natural Antibiotics - straight from heaven to planet earth especially for you.

Natural Antioxidants If its not life threatening, why not take a look at the natural sources available to us first??

Iron Deficiency As one gets older it is believed that even a slight deficit in iron my slow down thinking and impair the memory, so keep the memory and brainpower going by ensuring you are getting enough iron in your diet.

Calcium Deficiency A calcium deficiency can affect us in so many ways from cancer to osteoporosis, to high blood pressure, to epilepsy.

Magnesium Deficiency