Hypocalcemia or Calcium deficiency disease can make your hair and nails weak and lead to memory loss. In the long term you run into the risk of developing osteoporosis and arthritis.
Why Calcium Deficiency Disease Occur and How to Treat it
You may damage your eyes, get easy bone fractures and develop abnormal heartbeat. Untreated calcium deficiency disease can eventually be fatal, so treat it early.
Calcium is a very important mineral that regulates your blood pressure and strengthens bones. As you age your bones become thin requiring more calcium to stay healthy. If enough calcium is not received through diet and supplements then you may end up with calcium deficiency disease.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) the calcium requirement of both sexes of children below the age of 18 are the same.
However as they grow as adults the calcium requirement of women significantly increases as compared to the men. Women actually have to prepare decades in advance for their menopause when calcium deficiency can seriously hamper the quality of life in the old age. During the menopause bones become faster due to reduction in the estrogen production in the body.
There are many other causes of Calcium deficiency disease in which either the production of calcium used on the absorption of calcium is reduced video
Calcium levels in the blood can be severely affected by hyperthyroidism - a hormone disorder in which parathyroid hormone which controls the blood calcium does not produce enough calcium.
Malnutrition can be another serious cause of calcium deficiency disease as you consume less calcium do you can't absorb more than what you consume.
Some diseases and conditions can hamper absorption of calcium such as vitamin d deficiency and medications for thyroid replacements. Too much consumption of potassium in the body may also cause calcium deficiency disease as potassium burns calcium quickly.
Calcium deficiency occurs slowly over a period of time. When the body needs calcium it may take from the bones, that is why you do not see any symptoms of the deficiency in the early stages. It is therefore important to consume calcium through diet irrespective of whether you have symptoms or not.
Early Symptoms of Calcium Deficiency Disease
However when you begin to observe the following symptoms take action.
- Weak and brittle nails
- Hair thinning
- Muscle spasms
- Muscle cramps
- Easy bone fractures
- Numbness or tingling sensation in hands and feet
- Confusions
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Hallucinations
You must see your doctor if you see any of the above symptoms. Since calcium deficiency affects neurotransmitter release, the condition can cause serious damage such as seizures. A simple blood test will confirm if you have calcium deficiency disease or not.
Remedies for Calcium Deficiency Disease
Some conditions are easy to treat such as calcium deficiency disease. It is logical to consume more calcium through your diet and take calcium supplements. Do not take overdose if calcium supplements as the may Interfere with Blood pressure medications, Cholesterol lowering medications and Estrogen medications.
Even if you are not taking any of the above medications, overdose may cause kidney stones. Leave the decision of calcium supplements to the doctors, but you can treat your calcium deficiency disease with diet control and lifestyle changes.
5 Calcium Rich Foods
The following 5 calcium rich foods will help you to prevent and fight calcium deficiency disease effectively.
1. Dairy
Dairy products are the best source of calcium, however you have to be careful in their use as high consumption can lead to high cholesterol and fat.
Cheese is the best source of calcium. It is also one of the best dairy that helps the body absorbs calcium effectively. Different kinds of cheese have different amounts of calcium.
Since cheese normally has high sodium and fat, you will have to control total consumption of these items in your diet as a whole to get the best results from cheese.
Yogurt is another rich source of dairy calcium. Just eat a cup of low fat organic yogurt daily without worrying about any negative impact. In fact it is also good for your gut health due to probiotic.
2. Seeds
Some seeds such as poppy, sesame, chia and celery seeds are Rich in calcium and other nutrients.
So eat a tablespoon of any or mix of these seeds. One tablespoon may give you 10-12% of your daily requirement.
3. Fishes
Sardines and salmon are another rich source of calcium. They are also rich in heart healthy omega 3 fatty acids and proteins.
Add these fishes in your regular diet.
4. Almonds
Almonds are a good source of calcium. They are also a good source of magnesium, manganese and vitamin E. Other benefits of almonds D's is that it reduces high blood pressure.
Eat a handful of almonds daily.
5. Beans
White beans and wing beans are good sources of calcium. Eat a cup of cooked beans to get 10-20% of your daily calcium requirements.
Beans also reduce LDL and lowers the risks of diabetes type 2.
Other food items such as green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale are good sources of calcium. Mix and match your foods to consume enough calcium daily and you will not suffer from calcium deficiency disease.