Calcium is a

• Calcium is a nutrient that all living organisms need, including humans. 

• It is the most abundant mineral in the body, and it is vital for bone health.

• Humans need calcium to build and maintain strong bones, and 99% of the body’s calcium is in the bones and teeth. 

• It is also necessary for maintaining healthy communication between the brain and other parts of the body. 

• It plays a role in muscle movement and cardiovascular function.

• Calcium occurs naturally in many foods, and food manufacturers add it to certain products. Supplements are also available.

• Alongside calcium, people also need vitamin D, as this vitamin helps the body absorb calcium. 

• Vitamin D comes from fish oil, fortified dairy products, and exposure to sunlight.

• This article looks at why the body needs calcium, which foods are rich in calcium, what happens if the body does not have enough, and the pros and cons of taking supplements. 

■ Why we need calcium

• Green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, are a good source of calcium.

• Calcium plays various roles in the body. ▪︎ These include the following: 

•Bone health

• Around 99% of the calcium in the human body is in the bones and teeth. 

• Calcium is essential for the development, growth, and maintenance of bone.

• As children grow, calcium contributes to the development of their bones. 

• After a person stops growing, calcium continues to help maintain the bones and slow down bone density loss, which is a natural part of the aging process.

• Females who have already experienced menopause can lose bone density at a higher rate than males or younger people. 

• They have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, and a doctor may recommend calcium supplements.

○ Learn more here about osteoporosis.

■ Muscle contraction:

• Calcium helps regulate muscle contraction. 

• When a nerve stimulates a muscle, the body releases calcium. 

• The calcium helps the proteins in muscle carry out the work of contraction.

• When the body pumps the calcium out of the muscle, the muscle will relax.

■ Cardiovascular system:

• Calcium plays a key role in blood clotting. 

• The process of clotting is complex and has a number of steps. These involve a range of chemicals, including calcium.

• Calcium’s role in muscle function includes maintaining the action of the heart muscle. 

• Calcium relaxes the smooth muscle that surrounds blood vessels. 

• Various studies have indicated a possible link between high consumption of calcium and lower blood pressure.

• Vitamin D is also essential for bone health, and it helps the body absorb calcium. 

• Calcium is a co-factor for many enzymes. Without calcium, some key enzymes* cannot work efficiently.

■ Studies have also suggested that consuming enough calcium can result in:

• a lower risk of developing conditions involving high blood pressure during pregnancy

• lower blood pressure in young people

• lower blood pressure in those whose mothers who consumed enough calcium during pregnancy

• improved cholesterol values

• a lower risk of colorectal adenomas, a type of non-cancerous tumor

*NOTE : Enzymes are proteins that help speed up chemical reactions in our bodies. 

Enzymes are essential for digestion, liver function and much more. 

Too much or too little of a certain enzyme can cause health problems. 

Enzymes in our blood can also help healthcare providers check for injuries and diseases.

What are enzymes?

Enzymes are proteins that help speed up metabolism, or the chemical reactions in our bodies. 

They build some substances and break others down. 

All living things have enzymes.

Our bodies naturally produce enzymes. But enzymes are also in manufactured products and food.

■ What do enzymes do?

• One of the most important roles of enzymes is to aid in digestion. 

• Digestion is the process of turning the food we eat into energy. 

• For example, there are enzymes in our saliva, pancreas, intestines and stomach.

• They break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates. 

• Enzymes use these nutrients for growth and cell repair.

○ Enzymes also help with:

• Breathing.

• Building muscle.

• Nerve function.

• Ridding our bodies of toxins.

■ What are the different types of enzymes?

• There are thousands of individual enzymes in the body. 

• Each type of enzyme only has one job. 

• For example, the enzyme sucrase breaks down a sugar called sucrose. 

• Lactase breaks down lactose, a kind of sugar found in milk products.

■ Some of the most common digestive enzymes are:

• Carbohydrase breaks down carbohydrates into sugars.

• Lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids.

• Protease breaks down protein into amino acids.

■ What are the parts of an enzyme?

• Each enzyme has an “active site.” This area has a unique shape.

• The substance an enzyme works on is a substrate.

• The substrate also has a unique shape. 

• The enzyme and the substrate must fit together to work.

○ How do temperature and pH affect enzymes?

• Enzymes need the right conditions to work.

• If conditions aren’t right, enzymes can change shape. 

• Then, they no longer fit with substrates, so they don’t work correctly.

■ Each enzyme has an ideal temperature and pH:

• pH: Enzymes are sensitive to acidity and alkalinity. 

•They don’t work properly if an environment is too acidic or basic. 

• For example, an enzyme in the stomach called pepsin breaks down proteins.

• If your stomach doesn’t have enough acid, pepsin can’t function optimally.

• Temperature: Enzymes work best when your body temperature is normal, about 98.6°F (37°C). 

• As temperature increases, enzyme reactions increase. 

• But if the temperature gets too high, the enzyme stops working. 

• That’s why a high fever can disrupt bodily functions.

■ What health conditions can enzyme problems cause?

• Metabolic disorders are often the result of not having enough of a certain enzyme.

• Parents can pass them to their children through genes (inherited). 

■ Some examples of inherited metabolic disorders include:

• Fabry disease prevents body from making enzymes (alpha-galactosidase A) that break down fat (lipids).

• Krabbe disease (globoid cell leukodystrophy) affects enzymes needed for the protective covering (myelin) on nerve cells (Central Nervous System).

• Maple syrup urine disease affects enzymes needed to break down certain branch chain amino acids.

■ Other health conditions related to enzyme imbalances include:

• Crohn’s disease an imbalance of the bacteria in your gut (gut microbiome) may influence an autoimmune response of the intestinal tract. 

• This may play a role in presentation and severity of Crohn’s disease.

• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a condition where your pancreas doesn’t have enough digestive enzymes. You can’t break down food or absorb nutrients. 

• Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, diabetes or cystic fibrosis can lead to EPI. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) causes problems in how you digest food. Your pancreas doesn't make enough of the enzymes that your body needs to break down and absorb nutrients.

• Lactose intolerance is a shortage of the enzyme needed to digest sugars in milk (lactose) and dairy.

■ How are enzyme tests used to diagnose health conditions?

• Your healthcare provider can use a variety of enzyme and protein blood tests to check for certain health conditions. 

• For example, elevated liver enzymes could be a sign of liver disease.

○CARING FOR YOUR ENZYMES

■ Do I need to take enzyme supplements?

• People without chronic health conditions can usually get the enzymes they need from a healthy diet. 

• But, if you have certain health conditions, your healthcare provider may recommend taking enzyme supplements. 

• For instance, many people with EPI may take a digestive enzyme before they eat. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) causes problems in how you digest food. Your pancreas doesn't make enough of the enzymes that your body needs to break down and absorb nutrients.

• This helps their bodies absorb nutrients from food. 

• Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any type of enzyme supplement.

■ Can medications affect enzyme levels?

• Some medications affect enzyme levels. 

• For example, antibiotics can kill certain bacteria needed for some enzymes to work their best. 

• This is the reason antibiotics may cause diarrhea. 

• To kill the bacteria making you sick, they also wipe out important good bacteria that aid in digestion.

• Statins (medications that lower cholesterol) can raise liver enzymes and muscle enzymes. 

• They may increase the risk of damage to the liver or muscles.

■ When should I contact my doctor about an enzyme problem?

• You won’t know if you have an enzyme problem without a blood test. 

• Contact your doctor if you experience any of the following problems:

○Abdominal pain.

○Bloating or gas.

○Diarrhea.

○Fatigue.

○Nausea and vomiting.

○Unexplained weight loss.

○Low red blood counts (anemia).

○Gastrointestinal bleeding.

• Enzymes help facilitate biochemical reactions in our bodies. 

• They aid in everything from breathing to digestion. 

• Having too little or too much of a certain enzyme can lead to health problems. 

• Some people with chronic conditions may need to take enzyme supplements to help their bodies work as they should. 

• Only take enzyme supplements under the supervision of your healthcare provider.