The bodies pH is vital in determining the correct calcium supplement
Calcium is required by volume and weight more than any other mineral in the body.
No other mineral has received more notoriety over the years, yet remains so misunderstood. If your look around you will find many forms of calcium. How do you determine what is the best type of calcium for your needs?
Calcium Functions;
· 1. Determines the proportion of all minerals in the cell’s molecules.
· 2. Is responsible for the density, color and function of the cell.
· 3. Readily bonds with water, proteins and minerals for more efficient utilization but the cells.
· 4. Is the most efficient pH buffer for regulating the bodies fluids.
· 5. Calcium releases the mineral energy of your food during digestion.
The Liver and Calcium
There is not an organ, next to the brain, that has more responsibility in the body than the liver. The liver is the organ which is responsible for making all of the primary building and maintenance material for the rest of the organs and tissues in the body. Also included in the livers functions is the manufacturing of vital digestive enzymes.
Another function of the liver is processing waste. The liver is responsible for chemically adjusting the cell waste so that the kidneys can extract it from the blood. If this function is impaired, the body will soon poison itself.
For the liver to function correctly it requires three primary item, water, oxygen and calcium. If any, or all, of these are lacking or below the amounts needed, the liver will be inhibited from functioning at its optimum.
Because calcium is the vital link, in controlling acid-alkaline balance in your body’s chemistry, a deficiency in calcium causes the body to misuse the calcium that it does have available. This causes the pH of the body fluids, as reflected in urine and saliva, to either drift too high or too low. The body tries to control this change by taking calcium that is stored in body tissue like bones, teeth, cartilage and muscles. If this doesn’t work, the body will then deposit the calcium in the wrong areas.
Calcium Compounds are not all the Same.
The media has been touting for years that we need calcium, but has never addressed the fact that calcium compounds are different and react differently in the body based on the acid-alkaline balance. For example; Calcium carbonate – calcium, carbon and oxygen, Calcium Sulfate – calcium, sulfur and oxygen, Calcium hydroxide – calcium, hydrogen and oxygen.
These are three examples of the seven basic groups of calcium. What and how other elements are attached, to calcium, will determine the reaction of the calcium on a living item. The type (or types) of calcium needed can only be determined by measuring the acid/alkaline ratios determined in a “pH test”.
Calcium compounds will react in one of three ways on the basic chemistry of your body.
1. Calcium will influence your body in an alkaline direction.
Or
2. Calcium will influence your body in an acid direction.
Or
3. Calcium will supply need that will maintain a healthy acid base ratio.
Acidosis
Acidosis is the tendency of the body to be over acid. This occurs when the body loses its alkaline reserve. Persons who have diabetes often suffer from acidosis. The symptoms of acidosis are insomnia, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches, hard dry stools, sensitivity of teeth to vinegar and acid fruits. The causes of acidosis are kidney, liver, and adrenal disorder, improper diet, anger, stress, and excess niacin, vitamin C, and aspirin.
Altought it might seem that citrus fruits would have an acid effect on the body, the citric acid they contain actually has an alkaline effect in the system, converting to carbon dioxide and water.
Alkalosis
Alkalosis occurs when the body is to alkaline. It is often the results of excessive intake of alkaline drugs such as sodium bicarbonate for the treatment of gastritis or peptic ulcers. It can result in high cholesterol, endocrine imbalance and osteoarthritis. The symptoms of alkalosis include creaking joints, bursitis, allergies, chronic indigestion and menstrual problems. Alkalosis occurs less often than acidosis. Alkalosis may cause calcium to build up in the body, such as in bone or heel spurs.
Calcium
A calcium deficiency may result in the following symptoms: muscle cramps, brittle nails, eczema, aching joints, increased cholesterol levels, rheumatoid arthritis, tooth decay and numbness in the arms and/or legs.
Without knowing your body’s chemistry, it is impossible to accurately determine the correct calcium. There is a strong probability of picking a calcium that will make your pH worst rather than better. This is simply because of the odds. There are many “calcium supplements”. Chances are the main ingredient, especially the less expensive ones, is calcium carbonate from either ground limestone or oyster shell. Oyster shell calcium is the poorest of the supplemental forms. Depending on how fine the grind was, ground limestone is better but not really the best.
Do not buy calcium supplements that have magnesium as part of the ingredients. Magnesium is a stable mineral in the body. Magnesium needs should be met separately from calcium. Dolomite should not be used as a calcium supplement because the calcium in dolomite is not readily available to your body’s chemistry.
Also don’t buy combination supplements for there calcium content. Calcium supplements should be just the appropriate calcium by itself and should be taken without other minerals.
Vitamin C and vitamin D are also important vitamins for working with the body’s pH and calcium balance. If your system is strongly acid taking large doses of Vitamin C would drive the system farther acid causing strain on your body’s systems. Vitamin D has the same effect on an alkaline system. The urine and saliva pH test will determine if your body intact requires additional vitamins.
Remember, your pH numbers are the key to knowing what mineral nutrients your body needs — especially calcium. The ideas pH range which maintains the best calcium and mineral uptake, along with the best utilization, is 6.3 to 6.5.
More on Calcium Types;
Again the most common calcium supplement found is calcium carbonate, from ground limestone or oyster shell, or calcium phosphate and calcium lactate. Others include calcium citrate, calcium aspartate, calcium orotate and calcium gluconate.
The best forms of calcium are pure calcium gluconate, calcium lactate, and calcium citrate. In order for the calcium to react correctly in the body to control the acid-base balance the correct type must be used. Calcium lactate is used as a strong acidifying calcium. The others are fairly neutral in their acid-base reaction, but are very usable calcium. Calcium carbonate (Tums) neutralizes the stomach acid needed for calcium absorption. Calcium taken with iron reduces the effect of both minerals. Insufficient vitamin D intake or excess phosphorus and magnesium hinders the uptake of calcium. A diet that is high either in protein, fat or sugar also affects calcium uptake. The average American diet of meats, refined grains, and soft drinks (high in phosphorus) leads to increased bone loss in adults.
Determining Your average pH;
Mircofine pH Paper
Using a very narrow band pH paper measure the pH of a fresh sample of your urine and saliva and record the results. Do this two times per day for seven days at the same time of day. The best time for the test is about two hours after a meal. When testing the saliva it is best to wait at least a half hour after eating or drinking anything. At the end of seven days you should have fourteen pH readings of each your urine and saliva. Add each group of fourteen up and divide by fourteen. This will determine your average urine pH and saliva pH. It is best to retest pH after four to six weeks on a calcium plan to determine if it is correctly effecting your bodies acid-base and to adjust your calcium intake. When your bodies pH is stable, between 6.2 and 6.6 less frequent testing would need to be done.
The chart helps to determine which type of calcium would be most useful for your bodies pH. The second calcium is the one that helps correct acid-base imbalance. Another calcium – calcium citrate, is indicated as a back up for females who require additional calcium. In addition it indicates if vitamin A (acid-reacting) or vitamin D (alkaline-reacting) should also be taken to move the pH back toward the idea range. Additionally vitamin B-12, kelp, digestive enzymes and CoQ10 are recommended based upon the saliva pH tests.
Since most people are unable to obtain enough calcium from food alone, a calcium supplement is recommended. Find the suggested dose for your age group and subtract the amount you receive from food from that number.
infants: 360-600 mg/day
children: 800-1200 mg/day
teens: 1200 mg/day
adults: 1200 mg/day
pregnant or lactating women: 1500 mg/day
post-menopausal women: 1500 mg/day
Additionally, for good health a good multi-mineral supplement is very valuable. There are 66 different elemental minerals which our bodies require to function at it’s peak. If any are missing the functions that require them cease, no matter how abundant and available the rest of the minerals may be.
Tags: alternative, calcium, general health, health, minerals
