Most people know calcium as an essential mineral in the development of strong and dense bones. It is probably best known in preventing osteoporosis. But the most abundant mineral in your body has other important functions that you have to know.
Calcium in the cells
Though it is mainly present in the bone and teeth, calcium can also be found in the blood, muscles, and cells which all play a pivotal role in human physiology.
Unknown to most people, calcium’s primary function is for intracellular communication, or the transmission of signals between the cells in your body. It is a major mineral that helps in cell-to-cell communication.
Normally, the outside of the cell has 10,000 times more calcium than the inside. And you must maintain this balance. This is because either too little or too much calcium in your body, especially in the cells, can cause problems.
When this balance is disrupted, you may suffer from the condition calledintracellular hypercalcinosis. Sounds too scientific, butitjust simply means that there is too much calcium inside the cell and not enough outside of it.
What happens when there is too much calcium in the cell?
Calcium buildup inside the cell happens when a person suffers from calcium deficiency which often leads to serious complications.
So here’s the case. Have you ever wondered why people with high blood pressure take a calcium channel blocker? It is because it blocks the calcium from going inside the cell.
When calcium is not mobilized in other parts of your body, it gets stuck inside your cell. It may result to the hardening of your arteries or even hypertension.
The condition also lowers your Fat Storing Hormone sensitivity, so you will likely get diabetes.
While calcium controls the reproduction of your cellular growth, too much of it also disrupts the normal cell death in your body. This mechanism, known as apoptosis, is supposed to control the growth and death of cells to maintain balance in your body. But with too much calcium in your cells, growth becomes uncontrolled, resulting to more cells that turns into tumors, and eventually the big C: Cancer.
Even your painful joint area inflammation – your arthritis, bursitis, even your kidney and gallstones. All of these problems can also be associated with too much calcium in your cells.
Vitamins that prevent calcium cell buildup
Calcium can only move through a transport system. These vehicles are the vitamins and things needed to help mobilize the calcium in your body.
If you are deficient with vitamin D, you will likely suffer from this condition because nothing will help your body to absorb calcium. Your body will just compensate by holding more calcium inside the cell.
Aside from not getting enough sun, high levels of cortisol or of the stress hormone in your body lowers the vitamin D level. Not having enough bile, the digestive juice in your liver that helps the absorption of this fat-soluble vitamin can also be a reason why it will be hard to regulate the calcium in your body.
Aside from D, another helpful vitamin for calcium regulation is vitamin K2. Vitamin K helps you get rid of that soft tissue calcium. It takes the calcium from the cell and drives it to your bones. It also helps arteries become elastic. If you are not eating grass-fed animal products, your vitamin K levels may also become insufficient.
If you have low omega-3 and magnesium intake, calcium transportation will be a problem as well. You can actually get plenty of omega-3 or unsaturated fats in your diet from fish. Magnesium on the other hand comes from the vegetable we eat.
If you take enough of these vitamins, it helps the proper regulation of your cell and further prevents inflammation and improves your immune system. Just remember to keep a sound digestive system to absorb all these minerals.
Taking the wrong calcium can also cause clogging of the cell. Example of which is the calcium carbonate, which is not suitable for the human body. Since the body could not absorb it, it just clogs your cells.
So the next time you drink that glass of milk or take your calcium supplement, remember that it’s not just for your bones; it’s for your cells, too.
Dr. Eric Berg
08/31/2023
