Calcium acts as a building block for bones and teeth and is also important for healthy hair, nails and muscles. To prevent osteoporosis in old age, everyone should consume calcium-rich food on a daily basis. However, it is also important to know that excess calcium in blood is sometimes dangerous for health. Let's find out how.
About 99% of calcium found in our body has to be accumulated in our bones and teeth. The remaining 1% circulates with other substances in blood throughout the body and helps in digestion and other activities. In old age, or due to a complicated health condition, calcium may not be absorbed properly by the bones. As a result it starts accumulating in other parts of the body and causes problems.
Excess calcium can get absorbed by the nails, skin and even tissues where it is not needed. Although overall health depends on adequate levels of calcium in blood, there should not be deposits of calcium anywhere in the body. To avoid such a situation maximum calcium absorption is needed. Because of this reason doctors advise taking calcium-rich tablets right after meals for their proper digestion and absorption.
Premature aging, fatigue, depression and some other conditions can be attributed to excess calcium levels in the body. Normal daily dosage of calcium should not, in any case, exceed 2500 mg. Before buying and consuming calcium supplements make sure they contain optimum levels of calcium as well as some other substances that help in the absorption of calcium.
Serum calcium is also vital to be performed every 6 months or so to measure the level of calcium in your body. Doctors prescribe nutritional supplements according to this measurement. Usually a tablet providing 40% calcium is sufficient to be taken after meals. However, if your serum calcium indicates dangerously low levels of calcium you may want to increase this dosage after consulting your doctor.
If you have high or excess calcium, stop consuming milk and other dairy products till the level drops down to normal. Similarly, salmon, herring and tuna are not good for your health when you have high calcium levels. Eyes are good indicators of internal health of various systems of the body. If your eyes remain cloudy or cause pain, you should immediately see a doctor or have your serum calcium performed to find out whether there is high level of calcium in your body or some other problem that needs to be treated.
