Tag: Tooth Decay

Calcium Deficiency – Are Your Bones Ready for It?

Calcium is the kind of mineral that is most likely to be a deficient in an average human diet. Currently, calcium deficiency is a common condition to every individual. According to the official statistics gathered by the Federal government, only 21 percent of the total population in the United States is getting the required amount of calcium.

Importantly, having calcium deficiency may result to a long term thinning of the bones, osteoporosis or the softening of the bony tissue and commonly called as osteomalacia. Also, the defective metabolism of the calcium in the body during childhood may result to the condition called rickets A recent study showed that lack of the required calcium level may cause hypertension or high blood pressure and colon cancer.

Perhaps youve heard it many times that calcium deficiency may result to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, is often diagnosed when its too late just to reverse the conditions development. In United States, close to about 10 million individuals have osteoporosis that is caused by calcium deficiency. Close to another 34 million people is experiencing low bone mass, placing them to the risk of having the disease.

Having insufficient calcium intake to the body may result to the drawing of the reserves of calcium levels in your teeth and bones. With calcium deficiency, your bones will become lighter, hollow, and be porous. In weak bones, possible fractures in spine and weakened hips can take place easily and may end to permanent disability, cruel pain, hospitalization, and even death.

Moreover, there are other calcium deficiency symptoms that can be observed by anyone. Since calcium is also present in nails and teeth, having calcium deficiency may bring brittle nails and tooth decay. In view of the fact that your body requires a small level of calcium to move through soft tissues and bodily fluids every time, inadequate calcium intake can bring these additional symptoms and these are:

Experiencing muscle cramps
Having muscle spasms in arms and legs
Leg and back cramps
Tingling and numbness, and
Joint pain

Fortunately, to prevent having calcium deficiency, you must take enough amount of calcium whether its in dietary form or in calcium supplements. On the other hand, one of the popular ways to prevent calcium deficiency is to take the calcium supplement commonly called coral calcium. However, you must consult first a health care provider for you to have the right amount of calcium.

Side Effects of Artificial Sweetener

Everything that is not done in moderation can be harmful. This will also apply in the consumption of sugar as too much of it will not only lead to tooth decay but also to a host of other conditions that may include obesity and diabetes. Although caloric content and sugar content has already been more or less served with the introduction of several sweeteners in the market, there is still much debate on how safe these artificial sweeteners are.

As consensus, most believe that like all things, the use of artificial sweeteners should also be done in moderation. Small amounts of these sugar substitutes can be considered safe. It is however already hard to quantify right now as most manufacturers also use these sugar substitutes in their products.

In fact, most carbonated drink companies, if not all, use artificial sweeteners. These sweeteners are also found in prepared snacks and baked goodies. In other words, they are everywhere. Below are some of the alleged side effects of artificial sweeteners in the market. Read on and decide for yourself.

Acesulfame Potassium

Studies have shown that this can aggravate hypoglycemia because of insulin stimulation. It can apparently also cause lung and breast tumors, lead to leukemia and cause chronic respiratory organs as found in studies of rodents. Acesulfame Potassium is still being used in the market.

Aspartame

This is actually still being used despite the rumors that it can cause headaches and epileptic seizures. Other supposed side effects of these sugar substitute are mood changes manic episodes and a host of other neuropsychiatric disorders. There are also cases of the
dizziness, nausea, memory impairment, and depression found during studies but this was not directly linked with aspartame.

Saccharin

Although Saccharin is no longer being used as ingredients to manufactured products in the country, it is still being allowed to be consumed as table sweetener. Saccharin is actually the oldest table sweetener in the country. Unfortunately, it has associated with studies that suggested a link between saccharin and cancer. This was actually lifted by the US FDA in 2001 but of course the damage was already done.

Still, heavy use of saccharin can put someone at risk of developing bladder cancer. There have also been claims that Saccharin can also cause allergic reactions, even pruritus and urticaria. There will also be eczema, some form of photosensitivity and the appearance of tongue blisters.