If your legs are having irregular tingling and numbness and when you stand up after sitting for a while you hear a sound of bones crack. When you walk, your feet, ankle, and knee bones produce noise and you feel contractions. Besides this, if you have brittle nails and hair fall, lethargy, and fainting, then these all signs are symptoms of minor calcium deficiency.
What calcium does in our body?
Calcium is one of the most important and abundant elements of the human body. It makes almost 99% of our bones and teeth. It is imperative for effective communication between the brain and the body. It helps in muscle contractions and blood circulation. It is essential for blood clotting. It is a key factor in the activation of major enzymes of our body. Some studies have also found that enough calcium in our blood helps in keeping blood pressure low, and in this way you are safe from hypertension.
Calcium has a crucial role in children’s growth. It contributes to the development of bones, and their height depends on their calcium intake. Studies show that children who take enough calcium during growing age are protected from dwarfism; they grow strong and tall.
Severe Calcium Deficiency Symptoms:
If you have severe calcium deficiency, then symptoms can be worse. These include:
- Mental confusion, irritability, depression, and anxiety
- Tooth decay
- Insufficient blood clotting
- Bone fractures
- Osteopenia or osteoporosis
- Growth and development delays in children
- Heart problems involving blood pressure and heart rhythms
The High rate of calcium deficiency across the world:
Hypocalcemia or calcium deficiency is common in both the first world and third world countries. In under-developing countries females are at high risk of hypocalcemia, it is estimated that almost 3 out of every 5 women have calcium deficiency after pregnancy. However, a developed country like the USA has a high rate of hypocalcemia.
The US Surgeon General warns that by 2020, 50% of people over the age of 50 will be at risk for osteoporotic fractures. That’s right–half of the entire 50+ population is at risk of breaking a bone.
According to a 2013 report, calcium deficiency is most common in older adults, teenagers, and people who are overweight. The reported prevalence for permanent hypocalcemia ranges from 0.4% and 33% with renal failure remaining the most common type of hypocalcemia, followed by vitamin D deficiency.
While the incidence of hypocalcemia is difficult to quantify, global estimates in 2015 accounted for 3.4 billion people at risk for calcium deficiency.
How much calcium is needed daily?
| AGE | QUANTITY |
| 0——6 months | 200 mg |
| 7——12 months | 260 mg |
| 1——-3 years | 700 mg |
| 4——-8 years | 1000 mg |
| 9——-18 years | 1300 mg |
| 19——50 years | 1000 mg |
| 51——70 years | 1000 mg for male and 1200 for female |
| 71 years and above | 1200 mg |
| Pregnant and breastfeeding ladies | 1000 to 1300 mg |
According to doctors and researchers, both males and females require almost the same amount of calcium. It varies from age to age.
Why Calcium Deficiency Should Be Treated Naturally:
There are two ways to overcome calcium deficiency: one is by taking supplements, and the second is by meeting up calcium requirements organically or naturally.
The organic or natural method to mitigate calcium deficiency is highly recommended by doctors; conversely, the other alternative method of taking supplements is dangerous because it causes severe complications afterward.
Complications of supplements:
- When you take supplements your body can not absorb it properly, and this leads to kidney stone formation.
- It causes gastrointestinal symptoms like constipation, bloating, or gas.
- There is a high risk of a heart attack.
- It can cause calcification of soft tissues and blood vessels.
- It also reduces the absorption of iron.
Overcome calcium deficiency naturally:
The safest and easy procedure to fulfill calcium deficiency is to incorporate calcium-rich food into your diet. Make your diet plan as per the nutritionist recommendation. But firstly check your BONE DENSITY TEST; go for this test and its result will give you the estimated amount of calcium in your bones. By doing this, you can have an idea that where you stand in calcium deficiency and how fast you have to recover from it.
- Take sunbath in the morning and sunset. So that your body can absorb vitamin D. This vitamin is essential for the absorption of calcium in your blood and bones.
- Drink at least one glass of pure milk daily.
- Eat calcium-rich fruit like prickly pears, tangerines, oranges, kiwifruit, mulberries, blackberries, guavas, papaya, and passion fruit.
- The main daily resources of calcium available in all seasons throughout the year should be in your daily meal. These are cheese, yogurt, green leafy vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, okra, etc.
- Fish and other white meats are highly rich in calcium if you eat fish frequently then you can have a speedy recovery from hypocalcemia.
- Dry fruits are another one of the greatest blessings of calcium for humans on earth.
| DRY FRUIT | SERVING | CALCIUM |
| Dried Figs | Per cup | 19% vitamin D 241 mg calcium |
| Zante currants | Per cup | 10% vitamin D 124 mg calcium |
| Goji berries | 5 tsps | 4% vitamin D 53 mg calcium |
| Dried apricots | Per cup | 6% vitamin D 72 mg calcium |
| almonds | Per cup | 26% vitamin D 378 mg calcium |
Remember one thing that for the absorption of calcium in your body vitamin D plays a significant role. So maintaining calcium level in your bones and blood, maintain vitamin D as well in your body.
