What is calcium and what does it do in human body?

"Dr Shahid has summarized his six principles of health in a very simple form. Simplicity sometimes may not be politically correct. Well...What is wrong if you get the message and decide to live until 100 - 125 years and longer?"

Dr Shahid further emphasizes:

"If you follow these Six Principles of Holistic preventive Life style faithfully, you may never have to see any health care provider (i.e. MD, DO, DC, NP, PA, DP, DD, OD, psychiatrist, psychologist, chiropractor, spiritualist, homeopath, naturopath, herbalist and all the rest of HCPs) during all your long and healthy life;

"......Moreover, you will live a life that is full of vigor, enthusiasm, happiness and contentment for 100-125 years and even longer."


What else can anyone ask for? Does it sound too good to be true?

Well... IT IS "too good" and IT IS "true".

Remember! Health is what "YOU" make of it. It is "YOUR" responsibility. Not your health care provider's.

Follow these six principles of Dr Shahid's Preventive Health. Also known as "Preventive Healthy Life Style (PHLS)", and see the result for yourself. You be the judge. The best part of it is, "it won't cost you a penny". It is all free. And

"YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO SEE ANY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR AS LONG AS YOU LIVE."

As they say,

"One ounce of prevention is better than two pounds of cure."

So here are the six principles of holistic preventive healthy life style.

The basis of these six principles (holistic prevention) is already discussed in previous blogs. In summary these principles are,

Three do's, that you must do:

1. Eat Balanced Diet
2. Do a regular Physical Exercise (PE)
3. Rest (10-15 minutes) between daily hard work, every 2-3 hours; sleep (6-8 hours daily uninterrupted sleep) and enjoy frequent entertainments, holidays and recreations.

And three don'ts, that you must not do:

4. Don't smoke at all. Don't drink excessively and don't take any un-prescribed or unnecessary prescribed medications. In other words, don't poison your vital organs (brain, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys).
5. Don't over-eat or under-eat
6. Don't worry (worry is the worst enemy of physical, mental and spiritual health)


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Let us discuss these principles in detail. The first principle of preventive health is a balanced diet. It consists of three parts:

1. Proteins, Fat & Carbohydrates in right proportion.
2. Vitamins, Minerals, fibers (VMF)
3. Water and Oxygen

We have discussed Proteins, Fat & Carbohydrates in detail. We have also discussed the vitamins.

Now we shall discuss another important aspect of balanced diet, i.e. minerals.


There are following minerals:

Of the 92 naturally occurring elements, the 14 minerals that have been shown by research to be essential to human health are:

calcium, chromium, copper, fluorine, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium and zinc.


1. calcium


Calcium constitutes approximately 2% (by weight) of the adult human body, with the overwhelming proportion of total body calcium in the structure of the teeth and bones.

Calcium also plays an important metabolic role as a cofactor to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is instrumental in the release of energy for muscular contractions. It acts as an essential cofactor in various enzymatic conversions which occur during blood clotting. It is also essential for nerve transmission and the release of neurotransmitters at neuromuscular junctions.

Calcium is instrumental in ion permeability across membranes, influences the effects of protein hormones, is necessary for proper myocardial function, and helps to preserve the integrity of intracellular cement substances.

Scientific research has not conclusively shown calcium deficiency to be the direct cause of any specific condition. However, several clinical disorders such as rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, and scurvy, have been linked to abnormalities of calcium in structural bone. While conclusive evidence is pending, tetany and hypertension have also been cited as possible symptoms of calcium deficiency.

Calcium phosphate constitutes the bulk of inorganic matrix of bone. It is deposited within the soft, fibrous organic matrix as hydroxyapatite, adding to the bone's structural rigidity.

Calcium is also one of the major mineral constituents of tooth enamel and dentin, both of which serve as rigid exterior protection for the sensitive interior pulp of the tooth.

The vast majority of calcium absorption takes place via active transport in the duodenum and is greatly facilitated by the action of vitamin D, lactose, and high levels of dietary protein. Vitamin D deficient diets, diets high in fat, and High Fiber Diets have the reputed effect of curtailing calcium absorption, which is only 10 to 30% efficient under usual physiological conditions.

When serum blood levels of calcium fall, parathyroid hormone is secreted. This stimulates increased absorption of calcium from the intestine and resorption of calcium from the bone. However, high blood calcium levels trigger the release of the hormone calcitonin, which induces renal excretion of calcium and inhibits further resorption from the bone. The mutuality of these two hormones allows a feedback control of calcium levels in blood serum.

Calcium and vitamin D supplements are effective in the treatment of osteomalacia; vitamin D promotes increased calcium absorption within the duodenum.

Although not a proven cure, increased calcium and vitamin D intake is beneficial for the elderly with osteoporosis, as it counteracts the high rate of calcium efflux characteristic of this disease. In conjunction with vitamin D, calcium is effective in alleviating symptoms of vitamin D-dependent rickets.

Although excessive calcium intake has not been shown to be toxic, an extremely high intake of calcium in conjunction with a high intake of vitamin D can induce hypercalcemia. This condition can result in excessive calcification of bone and soft tissue (e.g., the kidney), or in the formation of kidney stones.

RECOMMENDED DIETARY ALLOWANCES

RDA for male adults: 1,000 mg
RDA for female adults 800 mg
RDA for children 7 to 10 years 500 mg.
RDA for infants: 275 mg.
RDA for Pregnant and Lactating Women 1,000 mg

FOOD SOURCES


Artichoke • Beet greens, Broccoli • Beans (dried), Cheese • Collard greens
Ice cream • Kale, Milk • Okra, Orange sherbet • Parsnip , Rhubarb • Rutabaga
Salmon • Sardines
Spinach • Swiss chard, Tangerine • Turnip greens, Watercress

Calcium Deficiency Symptoms In Bones
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Early stage symptoms in bones:

1. Pain in the joints
2. Brittleness of bones
3. Bones ache on exertion
4. Retarded bone and tooth mineralization
5. Fragile bones
6. Osteomalacia
7. Rickets
8. Stunted growth
9. Osteoporosis


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Next we shall discuss Boron, another mineral.


For comment and questions please write to :

syedshahidmd@yahoo.com.au

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Thanks