Re: Cramps and calcium
Chiron ot
Hi bling,
you may well be right, as calcium deficiency is a cause of cramping, especially when not caused by post-exercise.
In view of your age, muscle cramping is quite common in post-menopausal women and which has a direct link to calcium deficiency, and which has probably been exacerbated by too high an intake of magnesium: the body requires a proper balance of these macro minerals of calcium/magnesium, and where an excess of one can cause a metabolic deficiency of the other; although some studies have shown that a high calcium intake does not affect magnesium levels to the same extent that a high magnesium intake will adversely affect a metabolic calcium level.
My own research has revealed that Calcium and Magnesium are extremely important minerals that are often out of balance in people with thyroid disease. Imbalances of these minerals can result in very rapid heart rate, low heart rate, and irregular heart rate. Thyroid function itself (apparently) is most likely controlled by the ratio of these minerals.
Further, balancing calcium and magnesium won't correct thyroid problems on their own. You'll most likely need to correct the balance and intake of other minerals like copper, zinc, iron, selenium, chromium, manganese, etc. to achieve this.
Calcium and magnesium can get out of balance because of these other nutritional problems. However, getting your calcium/magnesium balance corrected is essential for normalizing heart rate, preventing dental decay and osteoporosis, and preventing muscle cramps (too little magnesium).
In conclusion therefore, to balance calcium and magnesium I would keep these points in mind: a normal person needs a cal/mag ratio of about 2:1; a hyper' needs more magnesium and a hypo' needs more calcium, but these ratios need to be constantly adjusted as you near normality; irregular heart rate can be a sign of either too little calcium or too little magnesium; the key to knowing whether you need calcium or magnesium is the strength of the heart beat, not the speed or the irregularity--if it's too strong, take more magnesium and if it's too weak, take more calcium.
Also calcium supplementation is only of benefit if you also supplement with Vitamin D3 & Boron, which will greatly increase the absorption of the mineral and where not doing so can lead to malabsorption and the calcification of other body organs especially the circulatory system and arteries.
This is a highly complexed subject, and where although I am not a qualified nutritionist, that is my own take on the matter for what you feel it is worth.
Regards
chris