The Effects of a Calcium-Deficient Diet

No person aware of the rewards of adequate calcium would allow himself to be even slightly deficient in this nutrient. Doctors and nutritionists call calcium tablets “lullaby pills”, soothing as a mother, relaxing as a sedative, and as life-saving as an oxygen tent.

The late Adelle Davis, one of the best known nutritionists in the world, shared her expertise in her book , “Lets Eat Right to Keep Fit”. Here’s some of the highlights of one chapter that deals with the effects and symptoms of a calcium-deficient diet :

* A lack of calcium causes decay of teeth and demineralization of bones. Both

calcium and vitamin D must be adequate, absorbed, and retained if dental

and skeletal bones be maintained.

* Low dietary calcium intake leads to osteoporosis. If calcium is not supplied in

the diet, it is withdrawn from the bones.

* When calcium is undersupplied, nerves becomes tense, the person becomes

restless, irritable and quick-tempered. When adequately supplied, calcium

aids in the transportation of nerve impulses.

* Lack of calcium and magnesium can make one suffer insomnia, another form

of an inability to relax. Sleeping tablets could be avoided if the calcium intake

were adequate.

* Lack of calcium increases blood pressure. Adequate intake lowers blood

pressure. Further reason for obtaining adequate calcium is that it is

necessary for the clotting of blood.

Davis also listed good sources of calcium. Children, particularly babies, should

be given whole milk rather than skim. If an adult prefers skim milk, perhaps with a salad tossed with oil because fat increases calcium absorption. Other

sources of calcium can be obtained from vegetables such as mustard and turnip greens, soybeans, and blackstrap molasses. It is also available in tablets or powder form as food supplements.

The chapter ends with some nutritional factors emphasized that influence calcium absorption. For example, calcium is used in chemical combination with

phosporus. If the diet is too high in phosphorus, large quantities of calcium is lost in the urine. Likewise, high levels of both sodium and protein in the diet can increase the amount of calcium lost each day in the urine.