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| Health & Wellness |
 Women's
Health
- Choosing the Best Calcium for YouBy Janet Rowe of Health & Natural Lifestyles In today’s environment there are many kinds of calcium, with every manufacturer claiming their product is the best. This can make it a confusing purchase. Let’s review what and where the body uses calcium, how it be assimilated and absorb and what are good choices. Calcium deficiency has been shown to have a roll in Osteoporosis. It also effects muscular contraction such as spasms, cramping and back pain, plus it plays a part in blood clotting, enzyme activation, nerve transmission and regulation of the heart beat. It also effects depression, insomnia, fatigue, edema, heart pain, blood pressure, and that’s just what the scientists have discovered to date. In the body about 99 percent of the calcium is in the bone. Bone is a living substance, one of the most active tissues in the body. To begin the process of bone formation, bone cells use proteins and other building blocks to produce a substance known as collagen. Collagen fibers develop quickly to form an organic mesh, or net, that calcium, phosphorus and numerous other minerals attach to. Over a period of days and weeks (and through a crystallization process involving substitution and addition of various minerals) the mixture of different minerals attaching to this organic net changes, producing the finished product called Hydroxyapatite Crystals. These crystals are what make bone hard, strong and rigid. Crystals and bone are made mostly of calcium, but also of phosphorus, magnesium, carbon, fluorine, sulfur, sodium, chloride and other trace minerals. Recent research at leading institutes has shown that many trace minerals are needed for optimal absorption and retention of calcium. Highly absorbed calcium is ionic, which is an organic state or living state, and does not need to be digested. The recommended daily allowance for adults is 1000 to 1400 mg/day, but this should be broken up into portions for best absorption. For maximum absorption look for a calcium product that consists of the following: Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol, Calcitriol) - is a steroid hormone known for its important role in regulating body levels of calcium and phosphorus, and in mineralization of bone. More recently, it has become clear that receptors for vitamin D are present in a wide variety of cells, and that this hormone has biologic effects which extend far beyond control of mineral metabolism. Vitamin D controls the absorption of calcium ion, and positively affects bone density by increasing calcium absorption in the intestine and promoting bone density. The recommended daily dietary intake (RDA) of vitamin D for adults is about 400 IU. Magnesium - suppresses the PTH hormone and stimulates calcitonin to help put calcium into our bones, preventing Osteoporosis. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to other disorders such as mitral valve prolapse, migraines, ADD, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, asthma, allergies, IBS, Crohn’s, anxiety, depression, nerve and muscle twitches. RDA is 400 IU or more if building to correct a deficiency. Boron - may retard bone loss. Since Osteoporosis is occurring in larger numbers of the population, this is important news. Bones have osteoblasts that break down old or damaged bone cells, while working to replace the lost bone. Osteoporosis occurs when the osteoblasts cannot replace lost bone tissue as fast as the osteoblasts break it down. Osteoblasts deplete bone at a faster rate after menopause, leaving women at a greater risk of bone degeneration. Boron appears to have a moderating effect on this process. RDA is1.5 to 7.5 mg. Following are a few different kinds of calcium products: Microcrystalline Calcium Hydroxyapatite - Made from the whole bones of New Zealand and Australia wild range cattle or sheep, this calcium combination contains calcium and other minerals in about the same ratios and composition as in human bones. Ingesting it has shown to increase its value to the bone re-building process, and when combined with correct magnesium, Vitamin D and boron additions, it shows huge results in reversing Osteoporosis. Hydroxyapatite crystals, provide anti-inflammatory mucopolysaccharides and proteins, and assist calcium uptake, which is particularly crucial during pre-menopause and menopause. Coral Calcium - This calcium is made from the living state of coral and contains the same composition as human bones, but with not enough vitamin D and magnesium, so additional should be added. It is naturally ionic, and when mixed in water it allows high absorption through little digesting. It has a natural alkalizing effect on the body which helps resist disease. Chelated Calcium - This requires a protein molecule to draw the mineral into the cell to convert into an ionic mineral. This can, and does, happen in the body, making it absorbable, but it is not a complete bone food due to lack of minerals and trace minerals. Carbonates, lactates and gluconates require stomach acid and other balanced body systems to absorb, and typically have little ionic life. Calcium made from oyster shell, limestone or bone meal is the least absorbable, and may contain lead, arsenic and cadmium. The term “elemental calcium” refers to the amount of calcium in a supplement that is available for your body to absorb. This really is insignificant if the minerals do not accompany the formula, as it is not a complete bone food without the minerals and absorption varies. Microcrystalline Calcium Hydroxyapatite Crystals and Coral Calcium are naturally ionic, absorbable, contain the closest match to the constituents of human bone matrix, and are available with added magnesium and Vitamin D levels to be a complete bone food. Alternatively, other calcium still has value, but require not only vitamin D and magnesium, but all the other major and trace minerals to be added in an absorbable source to be a complete bone matrix. Janet Rowe, owner of Health & Natural Lifestyles Inc., offers Live & Dried Blood Analysis & a variety of therapies & therapeutic supplements. Call 403.212.6077 or visit www.healthy-option.com |