JL,
<< First, I would say that there is no need to be excessively concerned about
 calcium.  >>

There has just been a very long discussion about calcium on another list - and
I'm sending below a message I posted there a few days ago...........

"With regards to the many recent exchanges concerning calcium: The issue is
not how much calcium is consumed, but how much is excreted as a result of a
number of factors,  only one of which is the calcium/phosphorous balance that
has been discussed recently.

These are the important factors to consider:

-- Only ~25% of dietary calcium is absorbed through digestion, regardless of
the type of diet

-- It is very difficult to find a diet that does not contain enough calcium.
Adequate calcium is abundant in most foods.

-- Calcium is excreted through the urine each day, and the quantity that is
excreted must be less than the amount that is absorbed. Problems with calcium
deficiency are more a result of the excessive excretion of calcium, rather
than an inadequate ingestion of calcium in the diet.

-- The body maintains the serum calcium level within a very limited range, and
when necessary will draw from the bones and teeth to keep this level stable.

-- Many factors result in excess excretion of calcium, but the most important
is over consumption of protein.  There are studies that show that populations
that have the highest amounts of dietary protein, either dairy, meat, fish, or
nuts, have also the highest incidence of osteoperosis. (Eskimos, Finland,
United States).

-- The mechanism whereby over-eating of protein results in calcium loss goes
something like this: For a number of different reasons, protein when broken
down leaves an acid residue in the blood. Because the body will do "almost
anything" to keep the pH of the blood stable, in order to neutralize the
acidity it takes calcium from the bones and teeth. Furthermore, the acidity of
the blood results in the kidneys becoming exhausted and unable either to
excrete the excess acid, or to reabsorb the much needed calcium before it is
excreted.

-- Phosphorous and phosphates are related to the release of  several different
hormones, among these parathyroid hormone, which induces the extraction of
calcium from the bones.

-- Salt (including overconsumption of naturally salty foods, as well as adding
table salt, or tamari, etc.), caffeine, smoking, soft drinks,  inadequate
Vitamin D, the effects of unmanaged stress, and shallow breathing, are all
important factors in the excretion of calcium.

-- Weight-bearing excercise has been shown to be a critical factor in
increasing the strength and density of the bones. Although it is difficult to
reverse osteoperosis in the elderly through adjustment of calcium levels,
weight-bearig excercise has a very rapid positive effect on bone density, even
in people in their 80's and 90's.

Love, Liza May ([log in to unmask])