CALCIUM
by Dr. Lawrence Wilson
© January 2019, L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc.
All
information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not for the diagnosis, treatment,
prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.
Table Of Contents
Trouble Taking
Calcium Supplements
Strength of
Bones/Osteoporosis
Nerve Conduction
Cell Membrane
Permeability
IV.
SYMPTOMS OF CALCIUM IMBALANCES
Deficiency Symptoms
Toxicity Symptoms
Biounavailable
Calcium
V.
IDENTIFYING CALCIUM IMBALANCE
Blood And Other
Tests
Hair Mineral
Analysis
VI.
CORRECTING CALCIUM IMBALANCE
Calcium
In The Life Cycle
Esoteric
Understanding Of Calcium
Calcium
Synergists
Calcium
Antagonists
Calcium is one of the more plentiful elements in the body. Most of it in the bones, teeth and
nerves. Most people do not ingest
nearly enough bioavailable calcium because there are few excellent sources of
available calcium.
Calcium is the primary structural
mineral in the body. It allows
us to stand upright by giving strength to our bones. However, it has many other functions as well.
TROUBLE TAKING CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS
Occasionally, a client has a bad reaction to taking Paramin or
another calcium supplement. In our
experience, this is because the calcium causes a healing reaction that is unpleasant.
Symptoms can include fatigue, upset stomach, brain fog, thirst
and/or excessive urination. In
these cases, reduce the amount of calcium and usually the reaction will
eventually pass. Stopping the
calcium supplement altogether will get rid of the symptoms, but it also slows
healing and development.
Dr. Paul Eck originally did not give a calcium supplement to those
with an elevated hair calcium level, and instead gave them potassium. The idea was to make the bodyÕs
existing calcium more available and satisfy the bodyÕs need for it that way.
After a number of years of research, he abandoned this idea
because it does not work well.
Most everyone needs a calcium supplement today, even babies who are
breastfeeding.
A few people do not do well on Paramin from Endomet Labs,
especially those with cancer. They
may do better on another brand of chelated calcium or calcium citrate
supplement.
FOOD SOURCES
Sardines with bones. The bones in sardines are soft enough that
you can easily chew them and eat them.
However, they contain an excellent source of calcium. For more details, read Sardines.
Carrot juice. Another very good source is fresh or
even store-bought carrot juice.
Adults may drink about 10-12 ounces of this daily for its calcium
content. Children need
proportionately less. Do not drink
more because it is very yin. For
more on this topic, read Carrot Juice on this
site.
Kelp. This contains a very usable form of
calcium. For more details, read Kelp on this website.
Dairy products. An excellent calcium food is raw dairy
products. If you tolerate them,
you may include up to four ounces total dairy daily of either raw milk, raw
cheese, raw yogurt or raw kefir.
Pasteurized dairy products are not as good. For more information about this topic, read Dairy Products on this site.
Other. Other good sources are segg yolks that
are runny, not cooked until hard.
Others are toasted almond butter.
Cooked dark green vegetables such as collard greens, mustard greens,
turnip greens, comfrey leaves and carrots tops are also decent sources.
We formerly recommended bone broth, which is a good source of
calcium. However, it may contain
too much lead, so we donÕt recommend bone broth at this time except a little
beef bone broth.
Corn tortillas or corn chips prepared in the traditional way with
lime are other good sources.
However, most corn chips do not contain lime and are not a good source
of calcium. Neither is corn bread
or corn eaten as a vegetable.
Strict vegetarians (no meat bones, dairy or eggs) often develop a
calcium deficiency. Although they eat
greens, and nuts and seeds, the calcium from these sources is less available
than in eggs, kelp and raw dairy products. Their diets are also low in calcium synergists such as
vitamins A and D.
CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS
The best calcium supplements include kelp and bone broth. These sources, in theory, combine a
very usable form of calcium with other vitamins and minerals needed for calcium
utilization.
Those with a hyperthyroid condition may have trouble with the
iodine in kelp, in which case they should just reduce the amount used daily, or
use other sources of calcium.
Other calcium
supplements. The best absorbed
forms of calcium supplements are calcium citrate, calcium chelate, calcium
lactate and MCHC or microcrystalline hydroxyapatite crystals.
Somewhat less well absorbed are calcium gluconate and bone
meal. Others forms that are less
common are calcium orotate and calcium aspartate.
Calcium carbonate, phosphate, dicalcium phosphate and tricalcium
phosphate are as not well absorbed.
Phosphorus binds tightly to calcium and interferes with absorption. Calcium carbonate, found in egg shells,
coral calcium and some supplements, is extremely alkaline-forming. Some people with excessive stomach acid
may benefit from it.
Unfortunately, stomach acid is important for digestion and reducing it
too much interferes with digestion.
Coral calcium. In his book, Barefoot on Coral Calcium. An Elixir of Life?, author Robert
Barefoot mentions that coral calcium contains significant amounts of iron,
aluminum and strontium. Aluminum
and strontium are poisons. Most
people also have toxic levels of iron stored in their livers. Dr. Barefoot dismisses this
problem. I suggest avoiding coral
calcium.
Some
commercial calcium preparations in drug stores also contain lots of sugar. Some are even sold like candies. These products will be less effective
because sugar upsets calcium metabolism.
I suggest avoiding all sugared calcium supplements.
While supplements are helpful, our experience is that food sources
of calcium are best.
Nutritional
balancing supplementation of calcium.
I find that every adult and child needs supplementary calcium,
even those taking kelp, bone broth and eating some daily product.
On a full program, every adult receives at least 750 mg of supplemental
calcium chelate or citrate, along with about 450 mg of supplemental magnesium
chelate or citrate. If a hair
analysis indicates a four lows pattern, the amount of calcium is greater.
Synergistic
nutrients are always needed, as well, to help with calcium absorption and
utilization. These include a
digestive aid, zinc, vitamin D3 5000 iu daily for adults, and perhaps copper
and other nutrients depending upon the hair mineral test results.
The functions of calcium include:
1. Bone strength. Calcium is the main structural mineral
in the bones. If it becomes low,
one develops osteopenia or osteoporosis.
This is very common in women after menopause.
Restoring the calcium in the bones, however, always requires more
than taking calcium. A number of
trace minerals, along with balancing body chemistry, are also required. For more on this topic, read Osteoporosis on this site.
2. Calcium helps
regulate cell permeability. Calcium in the cell
membrane stabilizes the cell membrane and reduces it permeability. This is important in some health
conditions, such as thyroid imbalances, in which reduced or increased cell
permeability influence how much hormone moves into the cells from the blood.
3. Maintenance of
acid-base balance. Calcium is extremely
alkaline-forming. The body uses
calcium to maintain the pH of the cells and elsewhere.
4. Muscles and nerve
transmission. Calcium is primarily
involved in slowing nerve transmission and in muscle relaxation. In other words, it has a sedative
effect upon the nervous and muscular systems. This includes both the voluntary and the autonomic nervous
systems.
5. Calcium inhibits
thyroid-releasing hormone. There is an inverse
relationship between calcium levels and the activity of the thyroid gland. Thyroid activity tends to reduce
calcium in the body.
6. Promotes insulin
secretion. Dr. Paul Eck said
that calcium is necessary for proper insulin secretion.
7. It is required
for phosphorus metabolism and energy production in the krebs cycle.
8. Calcium is also
important as an antagonist to some toxic metals, especially lead and cadmium. It opposes or helps block the absorption and utilization of these
toxic metals.
9. Calcium is
involved in blood clotting.
10. Fat digestion
depends upon adequate calcium.
CALCIUM AND THE FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT RESPONSE
When our bodies come
under a lot of stress, they move into what is called the fight-or-flight response.
When this happens, the body excretes calcium in the urine. This causes the muscles and nervous
system to go into a state of heightened alertness to respond to stress. Those who live in a fight-or-flight pattern
much of the time are continuously losing calcium in their urine.
A
different phenomenon occurs when a body is in slow oxidation, or the exhaustion
stage of stress. Low tissue sodium
and potassium levels prevent calcium from remaining in an ionized or soluble
form in the blood. Instead, it
precipitates and deposits in many body tissues including the joints, arteries,
kidneys and elsewhere. This is a
cardinal sign of aging. It is
associated with elevated hair tissue calcium and a calcium shell pattern.
For more, read The Calcium Shell on
this site.
The process is identical to calcium deposition on faucets in hard
water areas. ÔHardÕ water
does not contain enough sodium to ÔsoftenÕ the calcium. Adding salt or potassium with a water
softener prevents calcium deposition.
The same approach can dissolve calcium deposits in the body. Eating salt and potassium are not
adequate. One must restore adrenal
glandular activity which is responsible for normal retention of sodium and
potassium.
THE PERSONALITY OF CALCIUM
Stability, hardness
and physicality are qualities of calcium.
Calcium personality types tend to be earthy, plodding, steady and
blunt. They often move slowly and
awkwardly, and are unpolished in their language and mannerisms. They develop slowly and have a great
potential for love and spirituality.
When calcium is deficient, a person tends to become weak and
fragile. The dental arch,
shoulders and pelvis tend to become narrower. This is very common today.
When calcium is in excess, one can become somewhat rigid,
detached, suppressed emotionally, and out of touch. These are personality characteristics of those with a
calcium shell on a hair mineral test.
IV. SYMPTOMS OF
CALCIUM IMBALANCE
Deficiency Symptoms. These may include
osteoporosis, rickets, non-union of fractures, tooth decay and insomnia. Teeth, fingers and other bones may be
misshapen. The posture can be poor
and legs bowed.
Other symptoms are muscle cramps, irritability, hyperkinesis,
hyperacidity, bruising, high blood pressure, fight-or-flight reactions, fast
oxidation, lead and cadmium toxicity, tetany and cancer.
Toxicity Symptoms. Calcium toxicity symptoms may include
fatigue, depression, defensiveness, muscle weakness, pain, arteriosclerosis,
arthritis, kidney stones and gallstones.
Others are bone spurs, rigidity, slow metabolism, constipation, social
withdrawal and spondylitis (rigidity and inflammation of the spine).
Biounavailable
Calcium. In many instances of
calcium toxicity, calcium builds up in the body in a biounavailable form.
This means it is present, but cannot be used properly. This condition causes symptoms of both
deficiency and excess at the same time because there can be a deficiency of
available calcium, and an excess of biounavailable calcium at the same time.
The biounavailable form can be an oxide. On this website, this is referred to as an ÒamigoÓ form of a
mineral. For more details on this
subject, read Iron, Manganese and Aluminum
– The Amigos.
V. TESTING FOR CALCIUM IMBALANCE
Serum Calcium. Calcium tests in the blood are
generally of little value. The
body robs the bones to keep the blood level in a narrow range.
Urine tests can measure how
much calcium one is excreting.
However, they are subject to daily variations due to stress, hormonal
factors, diet and other things such as the state of the autonomic nervous
system.
X-rays. X-rays are helpful to assess bone
density. However, they have
several weaknesses.
- Osteoporotic changes
are a late indicator of calcium imbalance.
- Osteopenia and osteoporosis can be due to other imbalances
besides calcium. For this reason,
low bone density does not necessarily indicate a greater need for calcium. The bones also require boron, magnesium,
manganese, zinc, copper, phosphorus and vitamin D.
- A normal bone density test does not necessarily mean that oneÕs
bones are healthy. For example,
lead deposited in the bones will cause opacity on an x-ray, giving a false
reading. Strontium in the bones
will do the same. These minerals
do not produce the same bone strength as having plenty of calcium in the bones.
- Bone strength is due to more than just the calcium level. It is also due to the integrity of the
protein matrix of the bones. This
cannot be seen on x-rays or other standard medical tests.
Nutritional balancing programs address many of these
concerns. The program helps
eliminate toxic metals such as lead and strontium. It also helps restore dozens of trace minerals, and it helps
strengthen the protein matrix of the bones.
Hair mineral
testing. The level of calcium
in human hair tissue can vary from about 8 mg% to over 1200 mg%. Hair analysis is not a method to detect
osteoporosis. However, if a very low
or very high calcium persists in the hair for years, osteoporosis is likely.
Hair mineral testing is very helpful to evaluate other aspects of
calcium metabolism. Among these
are the degree of biounavailable calcium, calcium buildup in the tissues, and
calcium loss through the hair.
To do this, the hair analysis must be interpreted properly. The method is discussed in several
articles on this website and in the book, Nutritional Balancing And Hair Mineral
Analysis, (2010, 2014, and 2016 editions).
Also, hair must not be washed at the laboratory for accurate hair
calcium readings. I
recommend Analytical Research Labs only at this time (2016). Trace Elements, Inc. does not wash the
hair, but their testing is not as good, in my experience.
Interpretation of
hair tests. Tissues such as the hair become depleted of available calcium long
before blood tests or x-rays reveal a deficiency. The body shunts calcium out of the tissues, usually early in
life, and moves it into the blood to maintain the blood.
However, although available calcium in the tissues is depleted,
the reading in the hair may actually increase
due to accumulation of biounavailable calcium in the soft tissues.
Fast oxidation. In the state called fast oxidation or
an alarm stage of stress,
generally the hair tissue calcium is low, and is always low relative to
the levels of sodium and potassium.
This is due to excessive thyroid and adrenal gland activity that raises
sodium and potassium. these
minerals tend to dissolve calcium out of the tissues and the blood.
Slow oxidation. In the state called slow oxidation, the
hair calcium level is usually elevated, and always elevated in relation to
sodium and potassium. A reason for
elevated hair calcium is that biounavailable calcium precipitates into the soft
tissues of the body because the body cannot keep it in the blood.
The excess calcium in the tissues is a biounavailable form of
calcium, often an oxide or carbonate.
Calcium becomes essentially a toxic mineral, causing narrowing of the arteries
and calcium deposits in the joints, arteries, kidneys, brain and
elsewhere.
VI. CORRECTING
CALCIUM IMBALANCES
Here are some
important principles I use when addressing all calcium imbalances:
1. Never attempt to
correct a calcium imbalance in isolation.
This means that one must correct all the macrominerals or electrolytes,
not just calcium. The reason is
they are all closely tied together.
Dr. Paul Eck realized this, but most doctors, even holistic doctors and
naturopaths, do not understand how all the electrolytes are closely
related.
2. Always begin by
balancing the oxidation rate on a properly performed hair mineral analysis. This works because it balances the
calcium and the other electrolytes at a deep cellular level. Any other type of balancing using blood
tests, urine tests or others, so far, I have found to be far less safe,
reliable or accurate.
Some people use machines, kinesiological testing or other
methods. None appear to be half as
good as a properly performed and correctly interpreted hair mineral test when
it comes to balancing and replacing calcium in the body.
3. In addition to
the diet and supplements, the detoxification procedures greatly enhance
nutritional balancing programs. In
some cases, these are absolutely essential or progress will be minimal.
CALCIUM IN THE LIFE CYCLE
Children and breast
milk.
ChildrenÕs growing bodies need lots of calcium for their bones and for their
nervous systems. This is why substituting
soda pop, teas, water or even other milks such as soy milk for the more
nutritious breast milk is a terrible crime against babies.
MotherÕs milk is a rich source of calcium and vitamin D that help
create a calcified skeleton. Keep
breastfeeding until the child will not accept any more, or about age three. This will give a child the best start in life. For the breast milk to taste good, the
mother usually needs to be on a nutritional balancing program. For more on this topic, read Breastfeeding.
CowÕs milk and milk
substitutes. Pasteurized and
homogenized milk is not as good a source of calcium. In earlier times, well-informed doctors recommended only
raw, certified milk for children.
This is milk from cows that have been rigorously inspected for disease
by government authorities and must meet very high standards of
cleanliness.
This excellent food is outlawed in most states, often not only for
false health reasons, as is claimed, but for political reasons as well. There are forces that do not want
people to take control of their lives and their nutrition, though it is sad to
say.
Pasteurization. Cooking the milk renders its calcium
less biologically available to the body.
It also damages the protein in the milk. It also allows milk from sick cows to be sold. It also permits lax standards of
cleanliness on a few huge dairy farms that supply large areas of America.
Copper and
pasteurization. Copper rollers are
often used in the pasteurization process.
This can add excess copper to the milk products.
Homogenization is another insult
to milk. Vigorous shaking breaks
up the fat particles so they stay in solution instead of rising to the
top. However, the small particles
are absorbed directly into the blood stream instead of being digested
properly. This also renders the
milk less healthful.
ESOTERIC UNDERSTANDING OF CALCIUM
Calcium
may be considered the life element. It is required for all life on earth.
Calcium
is a compressive or pressure mineral. It exerts a kind of pressure that
allows life to flourish on earth.
Without it, life cannot exist. As oneÕs calcium
stores are used up, life ebbs out of the body. As one replaces the bodyÕs calcium properly, life energy
returns. In this regard, calcium
functions as a kind of valve or receiver of etheric energy that fuels
the human, animal and even the plant frame or organism.
Calcium
may be said to represent structure,
meaning living structure, not just the bones and teeth. Calcium may also be said to represent voltage in an electrical analogy, which
is more than an analogy.
In fact, calcium actually regulates the voltage at which nerve
cells fire. Too much
biounavailable calcium and too little available calcium will stabilize cell
membranes too much and prevent the proper firing of the nerve cells.
This is one of the problems in slow oxidizers, in particular. This causes mental and physical
depression, among many other symptoms.
It also impairs the passage of nutrients and waste products through the
cell membranes, which is deadly if it continues for any length of time.
In contrast, some fast oxidizers have excessive cell membrane
permeability. This can cause
problems such as too much thyroid hormone passing into the cells too
quickly. This leads to a condition
in which the serum thyroid hormones are low, yet a person really does not need
more thyroid hormones.
The person really needs a lower degree of cell permeability. When doctors give thyroid hormone
replacements in these cases, they can cause severe illness or even death by
further unbalancing the body and causing an even faster oxidation rate. In this regard, the balance of calcium,
and its bioavailability, is really a key to health in all living things.
CALCIUM SYNERGISTS
Magnesium helps keep calcium
in solution. Good sources are
cooked vegetables, almond butter and kelp. I donÕt recommend eating nuts and seeds because they are too
yin and harder to digest.
Silica is another calcium
synergist. It may be transmuted
into calcium according to Dr. Louis Kervan, author of Biological Transmutations.
Chlorine,
hydrochloric acid in the stomach and adequate
protein in the diet are also required for calcium utilization.
Potassium. This is another potent calcium synergist,
although in high quantity it can become an antagonist by dissolving calcium
from the bones and elsewhere. See
the section in this article and separate articles on Fast
Oxidation for more on this topic.
Potassium is absolutely critical for calcium metabolism in many
enzymes. In fact, a recent study
found that potassium is required for bone strength or density. (Jehle, S., et
al., Partial neutralization of the acidogenic Western diet with potassium
citrate increases bone mass in women with osteopenia, J Am SocNephrol. 2006;17:3212.)
Copper is required to fix
calcium in the bones and helps raise the hair tissue calcium level. Many people have biologically
unavailable copper which causes their calcium problems. In fast oxidizers, copper deficiency
contributes to a calcium deficiency.
Iodine is required for
thyroid activity. Low thyroid
activity is associated with biounavailable calcium and calcium deposition in
the soft tissues. The best sources of iodine are fish and sea vegetables such
as kelp. Iodized salt is not
as good a source. Also, I do not
recommend Iodoral or LugolÕs solution.
Both are toxic and will build up in the liver.
Boron apparently improves
adrenal gland activity, which makes copper more available. Boron is found in beans, leafy greens
and bone extracts.
Vitamins A and D are important for
calcium utilization and are commonly deficient. Vitamin D is only found in
enriched milk, fish oils, lanolin and from sun exposure. Vitamin A is only found in fish oils
and meats.
Some people substitute beta carotene for vitamin A. However, beta carotene must be
converted to vitamin A and deficient thyroid activity – almost universal
today - impairs the conversion. I
always recommend vitamin A, not beta carotene, for this reason.
Adequate adrenal
hormones levels are also
essential for proper calcium metabolism.
Hormone replacement therapy, however, is not the best way to improve
adrenal hormone production.
Assuming the glands have not been removed, a nutritional balancing
program will easily improve natural hormone production.
Infrared light is also extremely
beneficial for calcium metabolism.
CALCIUM ANTAGONISTS
Sugar in any form,
including fruit and juices, upsets the calcium/phosphorus ratio in the blood
more than any other single factor, according to researcher Dr. Melvin Page,
DDS. It also stresses the adrenal
glands and upsets the hormone balance which affects calcium metabolism.
Lead and cadmium antagonize and replace calcium
in the bones and elsewhere. Hidden
lead toxicity, for example, is an important cause of weak bones and
osteoporosis. Tests for toxic
metals may not reveal it when it is deeply embedded within the bones. However, a hair analysis often reveals
it later as it comes out of the body through the hair and other routes.
Excessive fluoride replaces calcium in
the bones, causing them to become brittle and weak. Sources are fluoride tablets, fluoridated tap water, some
mineral waters, foods contaminated with fluorides from the soil and foods
processed with fluoridated water such as reconstituted fruit juices and soda
pop. Some foods are naturally high
in fluorides like tea. Drinking
fluoridated water or consuming products processed with fluoridated water is a
cause of osteoporosis.
Excess phosphorus binds calcium and
impairs its absorption from the intestines. Sources are soda pop and diets very high in animal protein.
Phytates found in high grain
diets, soy and other beans bind calcium preventing its absorption.
Excessive oxalic
acid
found in spinach, cranberries, rhubarb and tea can interfere with calcium
utilization, but only if eaten in large quantities.
Low stomach acid and low protein diets impair calcium utilization.
High tissue sodium and potassium tend to dissolve calcium out the bones.
OTHER ARTICLES ON
THIS SITE RELATED TO CALCIUM
These are The Calcium Shell, Osteoporosis,
Depression, Anxiety and Chiropractic.
References
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and Lentner, C, Scientific Tables,
seventh edition, Ciba-Geigy, New York, 1973.
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I.E. and Smith, R.M., editors, Neurobiology
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L.J., Nutrition Almanac, fifth
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Textbook Of Medical Physiology, sixth
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and Fauci, A., HarrisonÕs Principles Of
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8. Jensen, B.,
The Chemistry Of Man, Bernard Jensen
Publishing, California, 1983.
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Handbook Of Vitamins, Minerals &
Hormones, 2nd
edition, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1981.
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C. C., Mental And Elemental Nutrients,
Keats Publishing, Connecticut, 1975.
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H., The Trace Elements And Man, The
Devin-Adair Company, 1973.
12. Segala,
M., editor, Disease Prevention And
Treatment, expanded fourth edition, Life Extension Media, Florida 2003.
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L., Biochemistry, second edition, W.H.Freeman And Company, New
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14. Wilson,
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