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While many people know calcium is one of the 11 nutrients that are important for bone and tooth formation, many don’t know calcium is also important in muscle growth and contraction, heart rhythm, blood clotting, nerve tranquilization and nerve transmission. This means calcium is part of the nutrients you need for a healthy heart, healthy nails, teeth, bones, skin and soft tissue.

In my article on magnesium, I mention it is important in converting vitamin D into a biologically usable form the body can use to make use of calcium and the article on boron shows it helps postmenopausal women retain more calcium during urination. The interdependency of the minerals in the body is starting to show itself so a deficiency in one mineral will adversely affect many functions within your body. Because the symptom you feel and share with your medical professional may not point directly at a certain mineral, they may miss the root cause of the problem unless they have a very good understanding of nutrition.

It’s true that about 99 percent of the calcium in your body is used in your bones and teeth but that 1 percent used by the rest of your body is just as important because it is used for nerve impulses and muscle contractions that help you stay alive and move about. We are talking about your muscles, heart kidneys and other organs. Your body is constantly making new cells and calcium helps maintain the RNA and DNA structures. Your DNA is your blueprint of who you are so the calcium in you is helping you stay you.

Deficiencies in calcium and magnesium have been linked to high blood pressure through research so maintaining recommended levels of these minerals is vital to your health. Low calcium levels may be indicated by muscle cramps, tooth decay, arm/leg numbness, heart palpitations, nervousness and insomnia too. Proper levels of calcium have also shown to help reduce problems associated with PMS and in protecting against colon cancer.

There are many calcium supplements on the market and some of them aren’t worth the money spent on them. Calcium needs stomach acids to break it down so it can be absorbed before reaching the small intestine so taking an antacid that has calcium is a waste because none of the calcium gets absorbed. The best sources of calcium are derived from plants and are more absorbable but these are more expensive than the carbonate or dolomite derived forms. Calcium derived from carbonate and dolomite are poor sources of calcium and any calcium supplement that is inexpensive and the calcium source isn’t specified is often this cheap source your body cannot readily break down and absorb. (Calcium carbonate and dolomite are rocks.) Your body can absorb the calcium from plants more readily than from rock because the plant based will be more in line with your metabolic needs. The plant based calcium is also more likely to be free of metals such as aluminum and lead that your body cannot use.

You can naturally add calcium to your diet by eating organic dark leafy vegetables, sesame seeds, cheese, salmon and sardines and these are the same foods that also provide boron.

Calcium is so important to your health it is often used to reduce the problems caused by arthritis, bone pain, rheumatism, osteoporosis, backaches, heart palpitations, finger tremors, foot/leg cramps, insomnia, nervousness, menstrual cramps, premenstrual tension, menopause problems and obesity.

Calcium is a major mineral that you need to live a quality life but too much calcium can put stress on the kidneys and you may have kidney stones form as the body tries to flush the excess calcium. Your level of activity will determine where in the recommended guidelines your calcium needs fall and common sense should tell you that taking calcium or any supplement at regular intervals throughout the day is better that a massive dose at one time.

Food or liquid supplements make this easier than pills.

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Ask Dr. Wayne Garland a specialist in natural remedies and natural products.