You may have wondered why calcium is not on the list of nutritional supplements I advocate, despite being one of the few nutrients that conventional physicians advise patients to take, especially females, since they are at greater risk for osteopenia (mild bone thinning), osteoporosis (more severe bone thinning), and bone fractures.
There is no doubt that calcium is an essential mineral that participates in numerous physiologic processes and is crucial for health, including bone health. If blood levels of calcium are low, for instance, a situation called “tetany” develops in which dangerous involuntary muscle spasms can occur. Low calcium can also cause heart rhythm abnormalities and seizures, some of which are fatal.
