Calcium
Symptoms Associated With A Calcium Deficiency
alarm or fight-flight reaction, irritability, anxiety, muscle cramps and spasms, bruising,nervousness, fast oxidation, osteoporosis high blood pressure, tooth decay,insomnia.
Symptoms Associated With A Calcium Excess
apathy, gall stones, arthritis, hardening of arteries,constipation,kidney stones, depression, mental slow oxidation, fatigue, withdrawal, social.
Nutrients That Are Synergistic With Calcium
Absorption - vitamin A and D, stomach acidity, protein in diet
Utilization - magnesium, copper, vitamin C
Antagonistic Nutrients
Absorption - fluoride, low stomach acidity, low protein in diet, phosphorus in excess
Utilization - lead, cadmium, sodium, potassium, high protein diet increases calcium loss in urine
Magnesium
Roles In The Body
Sixty percent of tissue magnesium is located in the skeleton. The rest is within the cells, where it performs very essential functions.
Regulation of Cell Membranes -permeability, muscular contraction, nerve impulse conduction and antagonism to calcium.
Enzyme Activation within the cells -magnesium is essential for energy production, and protein synthesis.
Functions Of Magnesium
Excretory -prevention of kidney stones
Digestive -laxative
Nervous -maintains nerve conduction
Muscular -prevents tissue calcification, needed for muscle contraction
Skeletal -required for bone formation
Metabolic -required for energy production, for glucose and fat metabolism, and for protein synthesis
Detoxification -required for liver activity
Symptoms Associated With A Magnesium Deficiency
anxiety,irritability, fast heart rate,kidney stones, "fast" oxidation rate, muscle cramps (especially after exercising)
high blood pressure,muscle spasms,hyper-kinetic behavior, seizures, irregular heart beat, tissue calcification.
Symptoms Associated With A Magnesium Excess
confusion, lethargy, depression,low blood pressure, diarrhea,muscle weakness,fatigue, slow oxidation rate.
Nutrients That Work With Magnesium
- Vitamin D, lactic acid, lactose, high protein diet
- Potassium is a magnesium synergist in many enzyme systems
Sodium
Roles In The Body
Sodium is an extracellular element, involved in fluid balance, regulation of blood pressure and cell membrane permeability.
Functions Of Sodium
Circulatory -maintenance of blood pressure, increases heart rate
Excretory -helps maintain acid-base balance
Digestive -required to produce hydrochloric acid in the stomach
Endocrine -reduces aldosterone secretion
Detoxification -keeps toxic substances in solution
Symptoms Associated With A Sodium Deficiency
allergies, fatigue, anorexia, low blood pressure, apathy,low hydrochloric-acid level, bloating, poor protein digestion
depression,slow oxidation rate, dizziness and weakness.
Symptoms Associated With A Sodium Excess
edema,irritability, fast oxidation rate, lowers calcium and magnesium levels, headaches, nervousness
high blood pressure and water retention.
Synergistic Nutrients
Absorption -glucose
Metabolic -manganese, chromium, vitamin C, E and B complex
Antagonistic Nutrients
Absorption -calcium
Metabolic -zinc, choline, inositol
Potassium
Roles In The Body
Potassium has many roles, especially intra-cellular fluid balance, and cell membrane effects such as muscle contraction, nerve impulse conduction, and cell permeability.
Functions Of Potassium
Circulatory -lowers heart rate, dilates arteries, can reduce blood pressure
Excretory -maintains acid-base balance
Digestive -increases digestive tract activity
Endocrine -helps raise aldosterone and other hormones
Metabolic -involved in carbohydrate metabolism
Symptoms Associated With A Potassium Deficiency
allergies, low blood pressure, constipation,muscle weakness, fatigue,skin problems
irregular heart beat,slow oxidation, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and water retention.
Symptoms Associated With A Potassium Excess
depression,muscle spasms,fast oxidation,weakness, muscle
high blood sugar (diabetes)
Synergistic Nutrients
magnesium
Antagonistic Nutrients
calcium, processed food diets are low in potassium
Phosphorous
Roles In The Body
- Bone structure - 80-85% of phosphorus in the body is located in the bones and teeth
- Energy production - (ATP - adenosine triphosphate and ADP - adenosine diphosphate)
- Cell membranes - (as phospholipids)
- Genetic reactions - in DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid and RNA - ribonucleic acid
- Buffering agent, to maintain osmotic pressure
Functions Of Phosphorus
Digestive -regulates absorption of calcium and a variety of trace elements. Phosphorus in excess has a laxative action
Nervous -source of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), component of the myelin sheath
Endocrine -interacts with vitamin D
Blood -red blood cell (RBC) metabolism
Muscular -adenosine triphosphate (ATP) needed for muscle contraction
Skeletal -component of bone and teeth
Immune -adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for leukocytes
Metabolic -energy production via phosphorylation reactions
Detoxification -in liver - via adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
Symptoms Associated With A Phosphorus Deficiency
arthritis,tooth decay, fatigue,stunted growth,fragile bones, weakness, muscle and
reproductive problems
Symptoms Associated With A Phosphorus Excess
anemia (iron deficiency)hyper-excitability
arthritis,irritability, calcium and magnesium deficiency,tremors
diarrhea and zinc deficiency.
Synergetic Nutrients
Absorption -sodium, potassium, low calcium diet, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, high fat diet
Metabolic -calcium, magnesium, B-complex vitamins (in energy production)
Antagonistic Nutrients
Absorption -calcium, aluminum, iron, magnesium, vegetarian diets,vitamin D deficiency