Biochemical Symbiotic Relationships: Calcium and Magnesium Together
Taking a supplement of calcium and magnesium together can ensure that you maintain one of the myriad symbiotic relationships that your body’s biochemistry relies upon. Your body is a balance – the yin and the yang, the positive and the negative – life is a matter of balance, and the biochemistry of calcium and magnesium together exemplifies that perfectly.
There are two calcium-regulating hormones that your body produces: calcitonin and PTH (parathyroid hormone). These two hormones work together to maintain a balance of calcium between your hard (bones) and soft (muscles) tissues which are fed from the blood. While PTH increases blood calcium levels, calcitonin decreases it. Magnesium plays a significant part in this balance, in that it suppresses PTH production and so helps to maintain a good balance of calcium ions in your blood.
It is extremely important that a proper balance between bone calcium and blood calcium that feeds the muscles and other soft tissues is maintained. Without magnesium there to prevent PTH from transferring calcium from your bone to your blood, your blood calcium levels would increase and you would suffer from osteoporosis and arthritis. However, without the calcium, of course, there would be insufficient to allow the proper function of your muscles, hence both are essential and a supplement containing a proper supply of each is what is needed to maintain proper muscle function without compromising your bone structure.
A good diet containing dairy products, nuts, seeds, legumes and grains would also have the same effect: calcium and magnesium together are an essential component of your diet, whether by supplementation or not. Balanced calcium and magnesium supplements are available at your local or internet health food store in name brands like Solaray and Source Naturals. Always choose name brands to ensure that you purchase a good quality supplement.
