It is widespread knowledge that a correct nutrition is fundamental for our health. Vitamins, minerals, proteins and many other components of our food must be present in our diet and in enough quantity for our daily requirements to be met. Among all minerals we need to take every day, calcium is by far the most abundant in our bodies, comprising up to 1% of our total body weight, or sometimes even more.
Most of it is inside our bones, but few people know that calcium has many functions in our body, helping many organs and tissues do their job properly. Due to this widespread presence, the consequences of calcium deficiency are all over the map, and sometimes it is difficult to realize what is behind them. So here is a list of 10 dramatic low calcium symptoms you might not know about, so you bear in mind in case you need to up your intake.
1. Bone disorders
When people speak of calcium and calcium deficiency, usually the first thing that comes to mind is bone health. And for good reason. Calcium is a fundamental component of the structure of our bones, and it gives them the strenght and, surprisingly, the flexibility and resistance that they need to support our body. If we don’t have enough calcium, our bones will get weaker and break more easily, thus increasing our risk for fractures.
The initial condition caused by lack of calcium in our bones is called osteopenia, which is the demineralization of bones. When osteopenia advances, it becomes osteoporosis, a noticeable loss of bone density. Sometimes, even small holes are found inside our bones, because we lack the material that is used to renew our bone cells and produce new bone tissue. Another bone condition associated with calcium deficiency is rickets, which causes bones to be fragile and weak.
