Source: Hidak
The most representative function of calcium is to keep bones strong as a component of bone. However, there is another reason why you must eat calcium. This is because another role of calcium is ‘maintaining bioactive functions’.
What is the physiologically active function of calcium?
Calcium’s important physiologically active functions include ▲ blood clotting ▲ nerve impulse transmission ▲ muscle contraction and relaxation.
When our body is wounded and bleeding occurs, our body activates platelets to form blood clots to prevent blood loss. Calcium is essential to form the necessary protein. In order to make the protein necessary for hemostasis, an enzyme must work, because calcium plays a role in activating this enzyme.
In addition, in order for our body to move, muscles must repeat contraction and relaxation after receiving nerve signals. The heart is also a muscle, constantly repeating contraction and relaxation to maintain vital activity, and calcium is also involved at this time. As calcium enters the cell, it promotes the contractile action, and when it comes out of the cell, the relaxation action occurs. The contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle creates a heartbeat, which circulates blood throughout the body to keep us physically active and alive.
What Happens When Your Blood Calcium Levels Are Low
Your body’s system maintains a certain level of calcium in your blood so that it can perform important functions right away. But what happens when the calcium level in the blood decreases?
Calcium is eluted from bones, which are calcium stores, to perform physiologically active functions such as hemostasis and heartbeat. If this phenomenon continues, the calcium in the bones becomes insufficient, increasing the risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis. In addition, there may be problems not only in blood clotting but also in contracting and relaxing the heart muscle, and if the calcium concentration outside the proper level is prolonged for a long time, it may cause heart failure due to heart muscle abnormalities and even cardiac arrest in severe cases. Therefore, you should eat enough calcium-rich foods on a regular basis. If you are unable to get adequate intake through food, you may want to consider taking a calcium supplement after consulting a professional.
Help = Hydak Nutrition Counseling Seongwon Yoon (nutritionist)