Are You Low in Calcium?
Calcium, best known for its important role
in bone health is an essential mineral. Calcium is needed to stabilize
blood pressure, regulate hormone secretion and conduct nerve signals
properly. When you don't get enough calcium you could suffer from
calcium deficiency which could be identified by certain symptoms. Here's
a list of the most common signs your body is lacking in calcium:
1. Dry skin
The lack of calcium, also known as
Hypocalcemia, may be visible in your skin. This condition will likely
make your skin look scaly and dry. It has also been found that calcium
deficiency has a close link to the development of skin problems
including eczema and psoriasis.
2. Fatigue
An inadequacy of calcium can affect your overall physical health. So if
you experience extreme fatigue, lethargy, lack of energy, or a constant
feeling of sluggishness, ease up on the energy drinks. Instead, focus on
something positive like balancing your diet.
3. Depression
Calcium is also essential for regulating your mood. Calcium is a natural
sedative that produces calming and relaxing effects. Generally, the
less calcium you consume, the more depressed and irritable you may feel.
4. Insomnia
As you sleep your levels of calcium rise and fall with higher levels
occurring during deep sleep. If your body lacks calcium, you'll likely
fail to have a sufficient deep night's sleep. This problem is related to
calcium's role in the creation of melatonin, a hormone that helps us
fall asleep.
5. Paresthesia
Paresthesia includes neurological symptoms
related to severe calcium deficiency. You may experience tingling and
numbness around the mouth or in the fingers and toes, muscle tremors, an
impaired sense of touch and also a poor memory and hallucinations.
6. Frequent illness
Calcium plays an important role in maintaining a healthy immune system
as it helps your body fight against viruses and bacteria. A deficiency
of calcium reduces your body's resistance against pathogen attacks,
consequently giving you colds, coughs, and sneezes more often.
7. Brittle nails
Just like your bones your nails need a certain amount of calcium to
maintain their integrity. So, when you suffer from a deficiency in
calcium your nails become dry, weak and are prone to peeling and
splitting. Weak nails are not thick enough to withstand an impact and
may, therefore, break during the simplest daily activities.
8. Difficulty swallowing
While it may sound surprising, calcium deficiency can lead to dysphagia
or difficulty in swallowing. This feeling of tightness is caused by poor
contractions of the muscles in your throat. When severe, it can even
lead to spasms in the larynx causing unusual changes in your voice.
9. Toothaches
Most calcium is stored in our bones and
teeth, so they are usually the first to suffer from calcium deficiency.
Because of this vital element, your teeth may start to turn yellow,
decay and may even hurt you. In addition, your risk of suffering from a
periodontal disease may also increase.
10. Muscle cramps
If you suffer from muscle cramps in your thighs, calves, arms, and
underarms that mostly occur at night, it may be one of the early
symptoms of a calcium deficiency. Cramps may also be followed by muscle
aches while moving and walking and may progress into spasms in muscles
all over your body with time.
How to treat calcium deficiency
All adults should consume around 1000mg of
calcium a day. In order to maintain a proper calcium intake, your diet
should include dark leafy greens including kale, collards, as well as
broccoli and turnip greens. For other calcium-rich foods, it is
necessary to eat more fatty fish including salmon, sardines, mackerel,
and tuna, as well as cheese, milk, soybeans, almonds and sesame seeds.
Furthermore, to help your body absorb calcium better you should increase
your vitamin D intake which is found in foods like egg yolks, oysters,
shrimps, mushrooms as well as fortified foods like cereal, oatmeal, and
orange juice.