Calciumis the most abundant mineral in the body. Calcium serves a role in:
- Muscle function
- Blood vessel dilation
- Blood vessel contraction
- Nerve signaling
- Bone health
- Teeth health
- Cell signaling
- Hormone signaling
- Colon cancer prevention
- Prevention of Osteoporosis
Calcium is stored in the bones and the teeth. The body has an intricate process to keep calcium at a constant level, drawing calcium from the bones and teeth when needed. Interesting fact is that the body only uses about 1% of total body calcium to perform the functions above while the remaining 99% is stored to keep this balance.
The recommended daily intake (RDI) of calcium will vary with age. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies Food and Nutrition Board has set the RDI as follows:
1000 mg daily for men 19-70 years
1000 mg daily for non-pregnant women 19-50 years
1200 mg daily for non-pregnant women 51-70 years
1200 mg daily for men and non-pregnant women over 71 years
Calcium Deficiency:
Due to our bodies ability to store calcium for later use to keep a balance, signs and symptoms of calcium deficiency usually occur after long term inadequate calcium intake. They include:
- Numbness and tingling of the fingers
- Muscle cramps
- Fatigue
- Seizures
- Heart arrhythmias
- Decrease appetite
- Osteoporosis
Calcium deficiency is rare in the US but there are some groups that are more at risk. These include:
- Postmenopausal women
- Amenorrhoeic women
- Female Athletes
- Lactose intolerant people and those with milk allergy
- Vegans and Vegetarians
- Those with malabsorptive syndromes
- Those post gastric bypass
- Those with kidney disease
Excess calcium intake can lead to health issues. This is usually a result of over supplementation and rarely a result of calcium intake from food sources. The tolerable upper limit level for calcium is 2500 mg for men and non-pregnant women 19-50 and 2000 mg for men and non-pregnant women over 51. Some health-related issues from excess calcium include:
- Renal failure
- Calcification of the blood vessels
- Calcification of soft tissues
- Kidney stones
- Constipation
- Possible increase in prostate cancer risk
- Possible increase risk of heart disease
It is possible to obtain all of your calcium from your diet. There are numerous options of calcium rich foods that include:
- Cheese
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Kale
- Chinese cabbage
- Chard
- Mustard greens
- Turnip greens
- Sesame seeds
- Acorn squash
- Salmon
- Almonds
- Dried figs
- Fortified tofu
- Fortified juice
- Fortified cereals
Try adding these to your diet! Your bones will thank you!
This article is for information purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult with your medical provider prior to any lab testing, diet changes or new supplement/medication.
References:
Institute of Functional Medicine Fact Sheet. Micronutrients: Minerals. Accessed January 2021
National Institutes of Health- Office of Dietary Supplements. Calcium. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/
UCSF. Calcium Content of Foods. Accessed January 2021. https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/calcium-content-of-foods
All photos used with permission from Snappa.com