Calcium and Magnesium Balancing.
When it comes to Calcium and Magnesium we find that they are likely two of the ones that perhaps carry the heavy load or the ones assigned to carry the heaviest of burdens when considering their use. We talk about these together as they almost always are talked about as two working together. Their balance is of the utmost importance in all applications, in either animals, plants, and even in the soil. In this chapter, we will focus on the human side of this topic. I would love to talk about the soil and plant side, but that is another story for another day. Too much material to cover in one setting to address both sides.
Almost everyone is deficient in Magnesium. In fact, it is among the minerals that are the most widely found to be deficient in animals, plants, and the soil. Magnesium extends to many functions of the body and is used throughout the body for major to minor functions as well as cellular activity. Magnesium is what allows the Calcium to move in and out of cells. A short and brief description of the actions of these two minerals is as follows; Calcium makes a muscle contract. Magnesium makes the muscle relax. To further extend this concept, the Calcium and Magnesium balance makes all the difference in the "Fight or Flight" reflex that can make the difference between life and death.
Most plants contain both of these minerals and readily pass them along to the animals that consume them. Animals in this sense also include humans. But as time marches on, we see people not getting these as they need them from plants. Why is that you say? Well, plants require a different ratio of the two than animals (humans too) require them. The ratio idea of the two in plants, as they need them, is on an 80-20 ratio. That means the plants, ie; the soil needs them at this ratio to facilitate good, solid plant growth. That means they need a ratio of 80% Calcium and 20% Magnesium. So when most everything is pretty much normal with the soil, the plants would uptake at this ratio, and depending on various conditions, will store the two minerals at about that same ratio within their foliage. Then when animals and humans consume the plants they in effect end up with a ratio of the two minerals. This then becomes problematic as the animals and humans generally require a 50-50 ratio of these two minerals, particularly within their brains and really the Spinal Fluid. Other areas of the body can run at varying different ratios, but generally not very far from that 50-50 ratio.
When the dust settles on this we see people not getting enough Magnesium from their diets, unless they consciously go out of their way to make sure they have sufficient Magnesium with their diet. But in reality that is very tough to accomplish, mainly because how do you make sure of something that you haven't a real concept of what to watch for? Most people would fit in this category. But on the other hand, with Calcium, it does not appear to be a problem. Even with people with a Calcium deficiency issue or what appears to be a Calcium issue is that it usually isn't a deficiency as much as it's the inability of the Calcium to be used where it is needed, which means, typically, a Magnesium deficiency. Since it is imperative that high levels of calcium have to be within the soil for proper plant growth, and the sources for Calcium are far and wide and with the 80 to 20 ratio, well, Calcium issues do not translate directly over to animals and humans. If a person has Calcium deficiency issues, or what appears to be a Calcium deficiency issue, then it is because something is wrong with the ability to assimilate the Calcium that is already there or better yet, the Magnesium isn't sufficient to make a ratio work at the levels the animals or humans need them to be. Because of the 80--20 ratios in the plants, then people consuming the plants, likely have an imbalance occurring.
But what about the people that buy Calcium and Magnesium supplements. Usually, these two are in one pill form or liquid form. These people usually report remarkable results. I mean everything pointed toward a Calcium deficiency when the evaluation was made, right? Then they take it and they observe/feel like a million bucks. So what gives? Here is likely what is going on most of the time. Their Calcium levels are there but they are not working as they are locked up tight as can be. If they take Magnesium alone, then they have to wait for a while for the Magnesium to take the Calcium from solid form to liquid form. But when the supplement is taken, then it is available for immediate use, which the body uses. As soon as the dosage is used up, then nothing happens, all activities cease. Well, until the next dosage is taken. The Calcium that was there is still there, locked up tighter than tight. But when Magnesium is taken alone, then as the Magnesium works its magic in loosing up the Calcium, then the Calcium is slowly used, as it becomes available. When it happens this way, you remove the possible potential negative impacts from a buildup of hard Calcium and the body then is able to have its Calcium and Magnesium needs met.
When you take a look at humans and divide them up into like diet groups we find that the group with the least amount of problems with the imbalance of the Calcium to Magnesium balance is the omnivores, IE; people that have a diet consisting of both plant and animal-sourced material. These people get a little more Magnesium so they end up with a ratio of closer to 50-50 than other groups of people. But still, most of them still, will end up still having an imbalance. The people with the greatest imbalance are Vegans. Vegetarians are not far behind. I mean for these two groups it is horrible. In addition to these two groups having an imbalance right off the top, they tend to demand a higher quality of food, usually Organic in nature as they believe that is better. If it is truly organic, then it very likely is of higher quality. Because of this ratio, one could be assured that they would be getting pretty close to that 80-20 ratio. They need a 50-50 ratio. These groups, especially the Vegans, are severely Magnesium deficient. The Vegetarians are not quite as bad, in general, as they do eat some animal products and would get some Magnesium from those sources. But still, they are over in the severely deficient category. But then even the Omnivores are Magnesium deficient, almost along the lines of the Vegetarians even though they consume animal-sourced products. They lose ground due to eating cooked food, which usually contains a lower level of Magnesium, and from choosing a lesser than the high quality of food that is demanded of the Vegans and the Vegetarians, on the whole. However, the paradigm to this that the more natural the source such as from wild sources, etc., will contain a high amount of Magnesium and that translates into a better Calcium to Magnesium ratio for human and animal use.
When taking a look at various meats it appears that on average, the wild game meats tend to have a very high ratio of Magnesium to Calcium ratios. In many cases upwards of 10 or more parts of magnesium to 1 part of Calcium. Take a rabbit, for example, they have about 7 times the amount of Magnesium over the Calcium. As the meats come from domesticated animals, the ratio tends to go downward, sometimes almost to the point of being equal. Interestingly this is where Brain and some Organ meats will usually come in at, the 50 to 50 ratio, which is what the Cerebral Spinal Cord fluid ideally should be running at whether it is human or animal. Whereas on the other side, Turnip Greens contain about 5 times as much Calcium as it does Magnesium. even though I made mention that green veggies overall contain a higher percentage of Calcium as compared to Magnesium, Spinach contains the reverse amounts. At times we do find the exception to the rule. Then when we look at a few of the more financially important veggie crops, we see Tomatoes, the most important in economic terms, worldwide, coming in at about a little less than 2 to 1 ratio of magnesium to calcium. That means a good balance as far as contributing to human nutrition. Then the next most economically valuable one, onions. Now that one is all over the board. Some varieties have a much higher Calcium to Magnesium ratio while other varieties have a much higher Magnesium to Calcium ratio. Then we have Cucumbers coming in at a very close to the 50-50 ratio, usually at a ratio of 55% Calcium to 45% Magnesium, as a general rule. Perhaps this is why that the saying, "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away", will also equally apply to the phrase, "A cucumber a day will keep the doctor away". Again variety has an influence on the ratio. Apples come in very close to the 55% Calcium to 45% Magnesium ratio. Whereas a Banana totally goes the other way and comes in at a 70% Magnesium to 30% Calcium ratio. Interestingly, people will eat bananas for Potassium. Although the plants will come in at ratios all over the board, one would need to be somewhat up to speed on the plant material used for food to make sure a respectable ratio of the two are where they need to be. Earlier I mentioned the Vegetarians and Vegans being more inclined to be Magnesium deficit than the Omnivores is because from my observations most of them do not pay much attention to the balancing aspect of their diets. Omnivores generally eat enough variety of foods to have a somewhat built-in balancing effect being taken care of by default. Most of the Vegans and Vegetarians just consider the removing part of certain parts of the diet is all that is needed, without understanding the need to be aware of certain sequences of ingesting various foods to sort of making the balance effect into default of sorts to make that type of balancing effect take place. Of course, the sequencing of types of foods directly affects the production of enzymes and acids. Many of which are in the material that they removed from the diet.
In simple terms, you can't just remove something without also replacing that item with something. However, in any case, upwards of at least 80% and by some accounts 90% of the people in the US have a Magnesium deficiency. So if you aren't one of those, then you must be doing something right because most people aren't doing the right thing in this respect, no matter what they might think are doing.
One of the big issues that tend to follow people with a Magnesium deficiency is that their brains begin to calcify. The reason for this is that the brain needs Calcium, but Calcium tends to solidify if the Magnesium isn't there to liquefy it. When the Calcium is in a "liquid" state, the stuff can be moved around to where it is needed. This is the one simple thing to keep in mind about Magnesium, it is that it keeps the Calcium in a moveable/liquid-like state so it can go to where it is needed. Other Minerals, Vitamins, and Amino Acids take care of this part of the action. When the Calcium calcifies, it is then in a solid-state. One can only visualize what is going on in the brain. An idea of a petrified brain, like petrified wood, comes to my mind. The brain does not function when it is in that state. The brain functions based on a very delicately balanced saline solution. A balanced saline solution is required for the electrical function of the brain. Solid calcium does not allow for the electrical conductive that is required for the brain to function. Everything about body functioning is all about the preservation of the brain. But in more simple terms, it doesn't take much for abnormal functions to begin to happen, especially as it relates to electrical conductivity. Once we get into some of the other discussions we will look at the various aspects of not only the brain functioning but other support functions as well. I love, love, love talking about the brain. We can talk about the Aluminum causing problems with people's brains, and that is from an honest and sincere observation. But the calcium is the so-called gateway of solidifying of the brain, to borrow a term that accurately describes the situation, from the illegal drug world. The whole Aluminum issue will be covered in another discussion.
So what are the solutions if you have a Magnesium deficiency? First off is to make sure that is what you actually have if you suspect that you do. Then after that, you would have to be assessed by a person that actually knows something about base stuff like this. Food is a good option to pursue. Maybe consider adjusting your diet to reflect a higher intake of Magnesium. But since this discussion was about Calcium as well, what should you do if you have a Calcium deficiency? The very same thing that you would do if you have any other deficiency. That is outlined in a previous sentence. I hope that I have given you something to ponder over in your quest of living.
End of Discussion. KK.
