Why Your Calcium Ratio is so Important

Every vitamin and mineral ratio is important.  What’s right for your own body will be different to the next person.  There is no one size fits all.  Calcium often crops up as a challenge for many of my clients and so I thought I’d write this little blog to highlight some of the reasons why checking your ratio is important.

90% of the calcium in our body is deposited within our bones and our teeth.  However, when other nutrients and minerals are out of balance, our calcium store is pulled from our bones to support the deficiency elsewhere.  When calcium leeches from our bones and teeth, osteoporosis can occur, especially in post-menopausal women where hormonal changes play a big part too.

Our ratio of calcium to other minerals is the key to understand - too much or too little may cause significant health challenges.

Will Calcium Supplements Help?

Calcium supplementation will only help if your body needs them.  So often we are told to supplement without foundation, facts or measurement.  The only true way to ascertain what your body needs is to undergo a simple home test.

Every ‘Body’ is Different

How our body responds internally to any challenge will depend upon many factors, including our genetic, environment, physical, behavioural and mental disposition. 

Gastrointestinal surgery, kidney disease, diabetes and excess alcohol may also lead to poor calcium distribution.  There is also confusion on calcium readings within tissues and within the blood.  One may be high and the other reading can be low. Expert interpretation is always recommended.

When calcium is out of balance the types of food consumed should be reviewed to avoid further problems.  For example, rhubarb, beet greens, spinach, chard, grains and cereal can have a major impact on calcium absorption, as can a variety of mineral and vitamin supplements.

Calcium and Mental Health

Extended use of calcium supplements, especially when not required, are known to have a detrimental impact on mental wellbeing as identified by Dr Richard Malter, a clinical psychologist in Illinois.  Symptoms include fatigue, exhaustion, anxiety, panic attacks, headache, paranoia, depression, memory loss and insomnia.

Sugar and Calcium

Did you know that too much sugar in your body will pull calcium from your bones and teeth?  Did you know that sugar feeds cancer and so is a double blow to your health?

Calcium and Fibromyalgia

The Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) commonly linked with Fibromyalgia is known to be present in many cancer patients.  EBV can be exacerbated by too much calcium in the body.

Which Vitamins and Minerals support Calcium Distribution?

Vitamins A, C, D and E are essential, in the correct ratios to support our calcium status.  Magnesium, phosphorus, copper, sodium, potassium and selenium are all synergistic to calcium.

I DON'T recommend Milk

Although dairy is recommended by many General Practitioners because of the calcium content, I hold a different view.

Simply put, milk and dairy products made from cow's milk is acidic and creates mucus. For anyone with breathing difficulties, refraining from drinking milk and eating dairy products can be a life changer.

In addition, dairy contains hormones from the many injections given to increase milk production and pesticide residue is present from the tainted grass eaten by the cows.

There's plenty of research on this topic, so please do some homework, don't just take my word for it. I believe that the downside from consuming dairy, outweighs any benefit from the calcium content.

What is the Recommended Dose of Calcium?

I’ve already stated that there is no one size fit all.  However, the UK government recommend 800mg daily if you are over 11 years old, increasing to 1200mg when pregnant. Under 11 years old the recommendation is 600-800mg daily.  Calcium occurs naturally from good food sources such as live organic wheatgrass, green vegetables, nut, seeds, beans and more. 

By following a healthy nutritious food plan, most people will not need to take calcium supplements.

How do we Assess our Calcium Ratio?

An easy way to assess your mineral ratio is by doing what I did.  Many years ago, I was introduced to Hair Mineral Tissue Analysis (HTMA).  I’d been guided to take antibiotics for 23 years by Harley Street Consultants, for a serious kidney condition that I was born with.  In my mid-fourties I met a talented Chiropractor and a Nutritionist Chef who introduced me to natural health solutions including HTMA.  Long story short, by following their guidance, I took control and weaned myself off all medication and haven’t knowingly taken an antibiotic during the past 20+ years.

My HTMA report illustrated several areas where my mineral ratios were out of alignment.  Calcium was a big one for me then and I still need to keep a watchful eye on my ratios today and so use the same testing laboratory that I recommend to my clients.

For further information on testing for vitamin and mineral imbalances, and for dried blood analysis which provides a detailed and comprehensive picture, please visit the assessments tab at www.perfect-health.co.uk.

References: Trace Elements and Other Essential Nutrients, clinical applications of Tissue Mineral Analysis, Dr David L Watts