by Dr Elaine Byrtus

Calcium is the most plentiful mineral found in the human body, accounting for 1.5-2 percent of an adult’s total body weight. The teeth and bones contain the majority of the body’s calcium — about 99%) percent.

Calcium in these tissues is concentrated in the form of calcium phosphate salts. Nerve cells, body tissues, blood, and other body fluids contain the remaining calcium.

Calcium is one of the most important minerals for the growth, maintenance, and reproduction of the human body. Calcium is essential for the formation of and maintenance of healthy teeth and bones.

The bones incorporate calcium into their structure. Like other tissues in the body, bones are continuously being reabsorbed and re-formed. Teeth incorporate calcium in their structure in a manner similar to bones.  It has been proven that women who regularly take at least 1000mg of calcium per day have 40% fewer fractures than those that don’t. Within five years of regular calcium intake your bones are definitely stronger.

Calcium has other functions in addition to maintaining healthy teeth and bones. Blood coagulation, transmission of nerve impulses, muscle contraction and relaxation, normal heartbeat, stimulation of hormone secretion, activation of enzyme reactions, and other functions all require small amounts of calcium.

A common symptom often seen in chiropractic offices, especially here in the hot Cayman Islands, is cramping of the muscles.

Your muscles require adequate amounts of calcium, water and potassium to work properly and increasing these in your diet can often help with the pain of muscle cramps.

The recommended amount of calcium for women over the age of 25 is 1000 mg per day and for women over 50, 1200 mg per day.

A high calcium diet is indicated for patients in order to prevent the loss of bone, but is not recommended for individuals who are hyperabsorbers and have a family history of calcium stones in the kidneys. 

Talk to your chiropractor for an informed opinion on what sort of weight bearing activities (which help you retain calcium) and dietary changes you can make to increase the calcium in your diet.