Prevent Osteoporosis:Know about the calcium connection.

[Guest guest]

The Calcium Connection JoAnn Guest Apr 25, 2006 12:24 PDTRoseMarie Pierce, B.Sc. Pharm., "The Holistic Pharmacist"The Calcium Connectionhttp://www.sunstreams.ca/CalciumConnection.htmExperts say that between one-third to three-quarters of NorthAmerican women of all ages are calcium deficient. Who needs extracalcium? Women who show a definite need for extra calcium includethose who are adolescent, pregnant, breastfeeding, and menopausal.Among the elderly, up to 90% of women and men are not getting enoughcalcium to prevent bone loss.This is due, in part, to the body's decreasing ability toabsorb calcium with age. Certain types of medications increase thelikelihood of calcium deficiency.These medications include: cortisone, prednisone, antibiotics,certain

diuretics (Lasix), antacids and other substances containingaluminums (processed cheese, pickles, baking powder,antiperspirants, alum), andulcer medications such as Tagamet, Pepcid, and Zantac.In human blood, a ratio of 2.5 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus isoptimal. Ingesting large amounts of phosphorus-containing foods(animalmeat, dairy and cola drinks) creates an excess of phosphorus in theblood stream. This causes the body to pull calcium out of the bonestobalance the calcium/phosphorus ratio. Alcohol and coffee drinkersneedextra calcium as well. Drinking more than 2 cups of coffee a daycausescalcium depletion. It also depletes the body's stores of Vitamin C,B1,potassium and zinc. Women are especially susceptible to the effectsofcaffeine. It takes at least twice as long for the liver to detoxifycaffeine from the female body as it does from the male body, saysDr.Christiane Northrup

in "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom."Alcohol, fatty foods, salt and sugar hinder the absorption andincreasethe excretion of calcium. Cigarette smoking is associated withdecreasedestrogen activity and also with Vitamin B6 deficiency (needed forproduction of progesterone). Both estrogen and progesterone areneededto keep calcium in the bones.Many of the above factors upset the body's biochemistry and cause acalcium deficiency. How do we keep adequate calcium levels in thebody?Adult bone building requires about 600 mg of calcium a day. Calciumneeds should be met by consuming a healthy, balanced diet. Yet, poorlifestyle choices and unhealthy food choices contribute to excessiveloss of calcium through the urine, states Dr. Karen Jensen in herbook"Menopause." On average, North Americans absorb about 30% of thecalciumthat is present in our diets, says Brenda Davis R.D., co-author

of"Becoming Vegan." If we take into account the amount lost in theurine,the amount retained in the body may be as little as 10% of what wasoriginally present in the diet.Do we need to consume more milk? Most people are aware that one cupofmilk or an ounce of cheese contains significant calcium (290mg.).Yet,there is a concern about the appropriateness of cow's milk as asourceof calcium. Dairy is frequently the cause of food allergies due totheingestion of the protein casein. Three out of four North Americanshavesome degree of lactose intolerance and suffer digestive complaintswhenconsuming dairy products. An enzyme from dairy called xanthineoxidaseis implicated in damaging arterial walls and aggravatingatherosclerosis!Healthier choices for calcium might include dark leafy green and seevegetables, broccoli, legumes, nuts, figs, and fortified soymilk.Onecup of most green

vegetables contains as much calcium as a glass ofmilk. Vegetables and fruits also contain protective phyto-chemicals,while dairy products include saturated fats and cholesterol. Toenhanceabsorption of minerals, drizzle a little lemon juice or a half-teaspoonof raw organic apple cider vinegar over vegetables, making them moreacidic. This stimulates the body's production of digestive enzymes.(Minerals are more easily digested and absorbed with high stomachacidity.)Are calcium supplements of value? Increasing calcium intake withhigh-level calcium supplementation (1,500 mg or more) can be harmfulwithout its companion nutrients, states Susan Brown, Ph. D., "BetterBones, Better Body." Dr. Brown believes we need a total of 17nutrientsto maintain and build healthy bones. In order to absorb andassimilatecalcium, important minerals such as magnesium, zinc, copper,silicon,manganese, boron and important

vitamins such as D, B6, C, K, folicacidare necessary. Furthermore, not all calcium supplements are createdequally. Many are composed of calcium in the form of calciumcarbonate,which is essentially chalk. Calcium carbonate is also an antacid(c.f.Tums) which, in decreasing stomach acidity, ironically also reducescalcium absorption! More absorbable forms of calcium include calciumchelate, calcium citrate or microcrystalline calcium hydroxyapatite(awhole bone extract). It is important to take calcium and magnesiumin aproper ratio, which varies between 1:1 and 2:1, depending upondietaryintake and other factors.Ensure maximum calcium intake by supplementing the diet with abalanced,quality bone-building formula containing an absorbable form ofcalcium,in the appropriate calcium to magnesium ratio, along with therequiredcompanion nutrients.RoseMarie Pierce,

B.Sc.Pharm, Holistic Pharmacist has over 30 yearsofextensive experience and a passionate interest in holistic healthandhealth products. She currently practices from her home in Calgaryandcan be reached by phone at 403-243-8916 or via www.sunstreams.ca.RoseMarie is also an author, a product formulator, and a lecturerandworkshop leader within the natural health industry._________________JoAnn Guestmrs-www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/D "Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." - Aurobindo.

Love cheap thrills? Enjoy PC-to-Phone calls to 30+ countries for just 2¢/min with Messenger with Voice.