Calcium is an important nutrient - it helps to strengthen bones and teeth, normalize heart rhythm, prevents the formation of blood clots, corrects the movement of nerve impulses.

The recommended daily dose of calcium is from 1000 to 1500 mg per day.

Signs of a lack of calcium in the body can be:

• Muscle cramps - this is an early symptom of calcium deficiency. Most often appear at night cramps in the muscles of the legs.
• Dry skin and brittle nails. Calcium deficiency quickly reflected in the condition of the skin and nails. Dryness of the skin and nails are easily broken signal that action must be taken to combat the shortage of calcium - otherwise it can lead to more serious consequences.
• More severe symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Lack of calcium in the body can cause more severe cramps in the lower abdomen, and unusually heavy bleeding during menstruation. Supplementation Food additives - basic classification   Calcium usually helps relieve these symptoms.
• Increased bone fragility. The man, whose body lacks calcium, bones can break as a result of such injuries, which are completely healthy person will carry no serious consequences. Such complications occur in severe calcium deficiency.

In addition, the symptoms of lack of calcium in the body can be limb tremors, weakness and / or muscle stiffness, tingling and numbness in the extremities. Sometimes calcium deficiency causes such psychological symptoms as lethargy, anxiety Anxiety - how to distinguish normal from disease? , Depression, irritability Irritability - you try to control my temper .

Chronic lack of calcium, causing a variety of health problems, called hypocalcemia.

Causes

The most common reason for a lack of calcium in the body is hypoparathyroidism. This disorder often occurs following removal of cancerous tumors in the head and neck, and after removal of the thyroid gland The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones .

Some congenital mutations lead to the fact that a person is constantly reduced levels of calcium in the blood serum.

Some of potent drugs, such as chemotherapeutic agents (such as cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin) can also lead to a lack of calcium.

Other reasons for lack of calcium in the body can be:

• Magnesium deficiency;
• Deficiency of vitamin D;
• Renal insufficiency;
• Hyperphosphatemia;
• Tumor lysis;
• Acute pancreatitis;
• Prostate cancer;
• Mammary cancer;
• Sepsis.

Treatment

In acute hypocalcemia (calcium level of less than 7 mg / dL), it may be necessary intravenous solution containing calcium. 100-200 mg of calcium first poured over 10-20 minutes. If you do it quickly, it may be followed by a malfunction of the heart, and even heart failure. Then designate the appropriate dose of calcium (0 5-1 5 mg per kilogram body weight) and slowly poured into a solution - not more than one dose per hour. The solution should not be bicarbonates or phosphates as by reaction with calcium, they can form insoluble salts. If necessary, these substances are poured separately.

In the case of mild to lack of calcium in the body of the patient is assigned to receive supplements containing calcium and vitamin D (without vitamin D, calcium is absorbed very poorly). It is also recommended to make certain changes in the diet - eat more dairy and other foods rich in calcium.

Prevention

To prevent calcium deficiency must constantly monitor their diet and take care that the food received adequate amounts of this substance. Women after menopause may be particularly useful to take calcium supplements, as they have as a result of hormonal changes increase the risk of osteoporosis.

Vegetarianism - it is both a certain eating habits, and, in the strictest manifestation, a particular way of life: the followers of vegetarian (vegan) refused not only on the use of foodstuffs of animal origin (meat, milk, eggs), but also on the use of any stuff animal origin in the home, whether leather shoes, fur and so on.

While this "boom" of vegetarianism as a way of life came in the two thousandth years (not least through the efforts of Hollywood celebrities who publicly declare themselves followers of vegetarianism), the history of this movement has its roots in the nineteenth century. Even in 1847 there was a first in the UK Vegetarian Society, which exists today. However, conscientious objection to animal products and practice some centuries before the emergence of vegetarianism as a separate course. In India, for example, the followers of Indian religions - Buddhism and Hinduism - have practiced vegetarianism for several millennia.

Why should adhere to vegetarianism

Opinion polls, which are regularly held in Europe and the United States among vegetarians allowed to find out the most popular reasons why people become advocates vegetarianism. Not surprising was the most common cause of more than half of the vegetarians consciously refuse food of animal origin, taking care of their health. No fewer vegetarians, adhering to this way of life, trying to thus contribute to the protection of the environment. In addition, one of the most popular reasons was losing weight and maintaining weight is normal - in fact, vegetarian diet by eliminating animal fats helps to maintain normal body weight.

Benefits

Vegetarianism - it's more than a fashion craze in society, this is really a healthy way of life - which is confirmed by numerous studies. Representatives of the American Dietetic Association, for example, claim that vegetarians are much less suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system, Type II diabetes, hypertension Hypertension - dangerous consequences . Furthermore, for vegetarians lower blood cholesterol levels and less weight.

The facts speak for themselves:

• People adhering to vegetarianism, the risk of developing heart disease Heart disease and heart attacks: that every woman should know   fifty percent less, and the risk of developing certain types of cancer Breast cancer - the verdict?   forty percent less than the "meat eaters".
• The risk of obesity in people who do not adhere to a vegetarian feed system, nine times more than the vegans do not consume any animal products.
• Vegetarians have a much stronger immunity Immunity - types and characteristics in children in adults And the average life expectancy of six to ten years, more than 'eaters'.

disadvantages

Despite the huge popularity of vegetarianism as a way of life, this trend has many drawbacks, the main one being supply concerns. Experts say that a diet that adheres to vegetarians, is far from ideal. It has no animal fats that are essential for maintenance of normal health and which can not be obtained by eating only food of vegetable origin. The best option nutritionists believe, rather, lacto-ovo vegetarian - a separate line of vegetarianism, allowing consumption of milk and eggs.

Furthermore, vitamins, minerals and proteins which are contained in foods of plant origin, the body metabolizes sometimes worse than the animal nutrients. For this reason, the rejection of any animal products and try to adhere to the strictest principles of vegetarian diet can provoke a series of health problems. For example, the Hollywood actress Ginnifer Goodwin has publicly refused to vegetarianism as a reason for mentioning it is a health problem. And Natalie Portman, one of the most famous vegan, abandoned vegetarianism during pregnancy so as not to damage the health of the child.