Vitamins
Lacking energy, always getting sick? Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals? Vitamins such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B and minerals such as calcium and iron are crucial for a healthy life. The vitamins and minerals information pages provide you with crucial information about vitamins and minerals, such as which foods contain them, what they do, deficiency symptoms and more.
What is it:
Calcium is found in several forms including calcium citrate and calcium gluconate. It is the most abundant mineral in the human body. 99 percent of calcium is found in bones and teeth. The remaining 1 percent is located in the blood, lymph and other body fluids, cell membranes and structures inside cells. Calcium participates in the metabolic functions necessary for normal activity of nervous, muscular, skeletal systems and plays an important role in normal heart function, kidney function, blood clotting, and blood-vessel integrity. Additionally, it helps to utilize vitamin B-12. It is available in both natural and synthetic sources
What does it do:
Helps fight osteoporosis Treats calcium depletion in people with hypoparathyroidism, osteomalacia, rickets Used medically to treat tetany (severe muscle spasms) caused by sensitivity reactions, cardiac arrest, lead or magnesium poisoning Prevents muscle or leg cramps in some people Promotes normal growth and development Builds bones and teeth Maintains bone density and strength Buffers acid in stomach and acts as antacid Helps regulate heartbeat, blood clotting, muscle contraction Treats neonatal hypoglycemia Promotes storage and release of some body hormones Lowers phosphate concentrations in people with chronic kidney disease Helps reduce blood pressure in certain people May aid reduce possibility of kidney stones Potential treatment for toxemia in pregnant women May reduce the threat of colon cancer
Symptoms of deficiency:
Osteoporosis (late symptoms): Frequent fractures in spine and other bones Deformed spinal column with humps Loss of height Leads to nerve and bone disorders May lead to high blood pressure and cause pre-eclampsia during pregnancy May contribute to colon cancer Osteomalacia: Frequent fractures Muscle contractions Convulsive seizures Muscle cramps
Overdose/Cautions:
Confusion, slow or irregular heartbeat, bone or muscle pain, nausea, vomiting : Heart damage Important note: signs and symptoms of toxicity have not been viewed, even at doses of 2 to 3 grams/day.
Natural food sources:
Almonds Kelp Kale Brazil nuts Dairy products Broccoli Pudding Canned fish with bones Cereal, rice, juice Sardines, canned Caviar Tofu Turnip greens Mustard greens Cottage cheese Figs, dried Cauliflower Walnuts Peanuts Baked beans, canned Soybeans Crab meat, canned