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Calcium for me was not recommended. In fact ... not recommended.
Calcium and Cell Death
It has been known for some time that many cells, especially neurons, contain special pores or channels that regulate the entry of calcium into the cell. These special pores are named calcium channels. These channels play an important role in the normal functioning of the neurons. In fact, it is thought that the calcium channels play a vital role in activation of neurons and transmission of their impulses. When a neurotransmitter (the chemical messenger or key) comes into contact with the receptor (the lock) on the neuron fiber's membrane, the calcium channel opens and the in-flowing calcium triggers the neuron to fire or be activated.
Normally this opening and closing of the calcium channel is carefully regulated. When stimulated this channel opens for only a fraction of a second, allowing minute amounts of calcium to enter the neuron. Like glutamate concentrations outside the cell, calcium concentrations inside the cell are carefully controlled by special protective mechanisms. Should too much calcium enter the cell,special calcium pumps drive the excess back out of the neuron. Somme of the calcium is also captured and stored within the endoplasmic reticulum of the cell, a long wavy structure within the cytoplasm.
It appears that several of the excitotoxins, including glutamate and aspartate, work by opening calcium channels, at least on certain subtypes of receptors. When these neurotransmitters are allowed to come into contact with the receptor in too high a concentration or for too long a period of time, the calcium channel gets stuck in the open position, allowing calcium to pour into the cell in large amounts.
When the happens the protective mechanisms are triggered. But, as with the glutamate pumps, the calcium pumps also require large amounts of energy as ATP. this energy must be supplied continuously, especiallly if the calcium continues to enter in large amounts and for a prolonged period of timme.
So how does calcium actually kill the cell? This is an area of intense research and interest because these calcium channels appear to play an important part in a multitude of seemingly unrelated diseases, such as strokes, heart attacks, arthritis, brain injury, migraine headaches, and cancer.
(excitotoxins)...
If this protective system fails because of the lack of energy, glutamate will begin to accumulate and stimulate the receptors on the surface of the cell membraine allowing calcium to pour into the cell. As a result the neuron will become overexcited. Also, excess calcium triggers a cascade of destructive reactions that can lead to cell death. Normally this protective mechanism is very efficient in keepin gthis from happening, but it requires large amounts of energy to operate efficiently. Fortunately, the neuron has a back-up or "fail safe" system should excess calcium enter the neuron. Once excess calcium is detected within the neuron, it will begin to pump this excess calcium back out of the cell. Normally this is a very efficient process, but it too requires large amounts of celluare energy for its operation.
So what can cause energy in the brain to fail? One of the most common causes is hypoglycemia - low blood sugar. The brain uses glucose, a simple sugar, as its primary fuel. In fact, the brain, which weighs only three pounds (2% of the body's weight), consumes over 25% of all of the glucose used in the body. Unfortunately, it cannot sotre energy, so when this supply of glucose is shut off, the brain quickly begins to fail. This is why some people have difficulty concentrating or they feel fuzzy-headed shortly after drinking a sweetened drink. The sudden rush of glucose causes their pancreas to secrete a burst of insulin, which in turn drives down their blood glucose. We call this rather common condition reactive hypoglycemia.
When hypoglycemia is severe and prolonged certain parts of the brain begin to die.
.... So merely going without food overnight can greatly increase the toxicity of MSG
magnesium plays a vital role in protecting the neuron from the lethal effects of excitotoxins. .... it is the rush of calcium into the cell that triggers the seris of destructive reactions that cause the cell to be injured or killed. Experimentally, neurons are much more vulnerable to the effects of excitotoxins when magnesium is low. This is because magnesium normally blocks the calcium channel.
http://web.mit.edu/medical/mithealth/hm84/hm84lucy.htmThe most common risk of taking too much calcium over an extended period is hypercalciuria, or excess calcium in the urine. For individuals with a personal or family history of kidney stones, hypercalciuria raises the risk of kidney stone formation.
Drug and nutrient interactions may also be a problem. Calcium can decrease the effectiveness of several antibiotics, as well as some common medications for cardiac or thyroid conditions. It can also decrease the absorption of other nutrients, including iron and zinc, and may affect vitamin K metabolism.
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/calcium/test.htmlCalcium can be used as a diagnostic test if you go to your doctor with symptoms that suggest:
# Kidney stones
# Bone disease
# Neurologic disorders
The total calcium test is the test most frequently ordered to evaluate calcium status. In most cases, it is a good reflection of the amount of free calcium involved in metabolism since the balance between free and bound is usually stable and predictable. However, in some patients, the balance between bound and free calcium is disturbed and total calcium is not a good reflection of calcium status. In those circumstances, measurement of ionized calcium is necessary. Some conditions where ionized calcium should be the test of choice include: critically ill patients who are receiving transfusions or IV fluids, patients undergoing major surgery, and patients with blood protein abnormalities like low albumin.
Large fluctuations in ionized calcium can cause the heart to slow down or to beat too rapidly, can cause muscles to go into spasm (tetany), and can cause confusion or even coma. In critically ill patients, it is extremely important to know the ionized calcium level to be able to intervene and prevent serious complications.
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=12568Our diet provides us with calcium. The foods highest in calcium include
* Dairy products such as eggs, milk, butter and cheese – this is where most of our calcium comes from
* Green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and beans
* Nuts
* Wholegrain products such as bread, rice and cereals
Our bodies absorb calcium from the food we eat through the lining of the bowel. The calcium is broken down before it is stored in the bones. The body controls the amount of calcium in the bloodstream very carefully. When blood levels of calcium fall too low, the bones release calcium into the blood. The amount of calcium absorbed from food in the bowel also increases. And the kidneys get rid of less calcium through the urine. If blood levels of calcium get too high, the opposite happens.
There are 3 hormones in the body that play an important role in this complicated control system. These are
* Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
* Vitamin D and
* Calcitonin
These hormones help to keep the correct balance of calcium in the blood.
If this balance is upset, the amount of calcium in our blood can become too high (hypercalcaemia) and cause serious problems.
The main causes of hypercalcaemia are
* Too much calcium leaking out of the bones into the blood
* Your kidneys not being able to get rid of excess calcium
* Taking in too much calcium from the foods we eat
http://hubpages.com/hub/Epilepsy-and-NutritionOther symptoms of inadequate vitamin B are tiredness, premenstrual syndrome, lack of appetite, lack of concentration and eye problems. B complex deficiencies are particularly common in those who smoke, drink alcohol, don't eat much meat and who are on the contraceptive pill.
http://www.newtreatments.org/loadlocal.php?hid=1034This is so because the minerals from plants, organic minerals, are the only ones our bodies can use. Organic minerals are much different then the minerals from rocks, inorganic minerals. Sodium from a plant for example, is much different than the sodium from table salt. For the basis of this discussion it would be best to assume that they are not the same at all. You can eat all the table salt you want and the cells themselves can still be sodium or base deficient. The sodium used for building cells has to be organic, from plants and it is the main base mineral we have because there is so much of it. Sodium chloride or table salt serves an entirely different function in the body.
In the same way, calcium from a plant is a lot different from say "Tums for the Tummy". Tums are calcium carbonate or limestone, a ground up rock.
We can't digest rocks, that's what plants do.
We simply don't eat enough fruits and vegetables to compensate for the minerals lost, because of our "rich", fast life diets. If we are BASE DEFICIENT, and most of us are, then our whole body is in a relatively acid condition. That is all there is to it.
Naw you are too young... and just think there will be new problems to deal with.
Good reason to take it easy Angel. Don't forget your water...