What are Calcium and Magnesium?
Magnesium and Calcium both are alloying agents. These are the most important elements in our body and affect numerous processes in our body.
Calcium and Magnesium are alkaline earth metals, which have become a necessity in our everyday lives and elements which sustain the human body and help us function properly. These two elements are extremely effective alloy mediums and are used in different industries to serve various purposes.
For example, Calcium is used to serve as a reducing medium in several industries, whereas Magnesium finds its use in the automotive and aircraft industries. However, their usage is not restricted to the industries in the outside world. Our bodies also require these elements in certain proportions to support the biological needs of our bodies. Not only is this true in the case of animals but also in the case of plants. Their presence in the body is essential as they impact various functions of our body like biological activities and the proper working of our organs.
Calcium is the most important element in living organisms. Calcium deficiency in our body can lead to poor absorption of Nitrogen. Calcium plays an essential role in the metabolism of Nitrogen in some plants.
Magnesium is an essential part of chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants that is responsible for the photogenic reactions. The deficiency of magnesium in plants can lead to the yellowing of leaves. The human body requires 200 to 300 mg of magnesium every day in order to sustain its smooth functioning.
Calcium and Minerals are termed twin minerals. An ideal ratio of calcium and minerals is 1:1. They both have opposite effects. For example, magnesium relaxes the muscle and calcium contracts it.
Let's discuss the biological importance of calcium and magnesium in detail below
Biological Importance of Magnesium
Let us now dive into the biological importance of Calcium and Magnesium to understand their functions better.
Proper Functioning of Enzymes - Biochemical reactions that take place within our bodies is highly influenced by the presence of Magnesium. Magnesium plays a major part in moderating the activities of the enzymes, which further influences the different chemical reactions that occur in our bodies. Magnesium is an important agent in splitting up the fat and glucose molecules in the body, in the manufacturing of enzymes and proteins and also adjusting and balancing of the cholesterol.
Production of Energy Within the Body: Magnesium is essential in the manufacturing of adequate energy in the cells in our bodies. If Magnesium is not present in an adequate quantity, then the production of energy will suffer as, without the magnesium source, nutrients cannot be transformed into Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy within our bodies that can be used. Adenosine Triphosphate is the basic energy supply that the human body requires. Without ATP, the functions of cell reproduction, protein synthesis etc. will suffer.
It helps in Keeping the Human DNA Safe: The main pillar of support for DNA synthesis is the adequate presence of Magnesium, without which DNA synthesis is quite impossible. Magnesium helps in providing balance and smooth operation of the DNA.
Magnesium Helps in Keeping the Electrolyte Balanced: Magnesium provides stability for the electrolyte within our body and thus helps in balancing it. The lack of adequate Magnesium supply will result in dysfunctional activities of the sodium-potassium inside our bodies.
Magnesium is essential for maintaining electrolytes in the human body.
It plays an important role in biochemical reactions that are catalyzed by enzymes.
Magnesium is also essential for the proper functioning and stability of DNA and also for its synthesis.
Neuromuscular irritation and conversion can be caused due to the deficiency of magnesium.
Chlorophyll, which is responsible for photogenic reactions in green plants containing magnesium, plays an important role in the process.
Biological Importance of Calcium
The presence of Calcium is generally found in vast quantities in our bones and also our teeth.
Blood houses a huge amount of Calcium in it.
Calcium helps in the clotting of blood during an injury. Without an adequate amount of Calcium, this clot will take an exceptionally long time to form.
Muscle contraction in our bodies is highly influenced by the presence of Calcium.
If there is a lack of the amount of calcium present in the body, our nerves can go dysfunctional.
The presence of Calcium helps in moderating the metabolic process of nitrogen found in plants. Without an adequate supply of Calcium, the entire growth process of the plants will get impacted as well as the number of chloroplasts in them.
Calcium is the most important mineral found in the human body. A proper level of calcium in the body can prevent osteoporosis.
The teeth and bones in our body contain the most calcium and blood body tissues and nerve cells contain the rest.
In blood, the concentration of calcium is maintained by hormones (parathyroid hormone and calcitonin)
Calcium is important for the contraction of muscles.
The deficiency of calcium in the blood causes it to take more time to clot.
Calcium helps in stabilizing the permeability of cell membranes.
It also helps in the proper functioning of the heart and nerves.
Interesting Facts about Calcium and Magnesium
Magnesium
There was a time when Calcium and Magnesium were confused with being the same element.
A fire with Magnesium in it can be extremely difficult to extinguish, as it has the capability of burning in various elements like nitrogen, water, and carbon dioxide as well.
Magnesium emits a stunning white light when it burns; therefore Magnesium is usually used in fireworks and crackers.
In case you want to put out a magnesium fire, you should never use water to extinguish it, as it has the capability of burning in water and will only make matters worse.
Magnesium can cure migraine headaches and lessen its duration.
Calcium
Research is evidence of the fact that Calcium can be used to provide comfort to women going through menstrual cramps and PMS.
A rich vitamin D Diet is required to support the complete absorption of Calcium within your body. Without the presence of Vitamin D, you will miss out on the full advantages of Calcium.
Lack of Calcium can lead to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is more commonly found in older women. Therefore, older women are recommended for calcium intake than older men.
As they say, too much of anything is bad; calcium intake must also be balanced. Too much of it can cause the development of kidney stones.
Therefore, we can see how important the role of Magnesium in the human body is as well as the biological function of Calcium for our body to function properly.
FAQs on Biological Importance of Calcium and Magnesium
1. Where can Magnesium be Found on Earth?
Magnesium is found in a huge quantity in the Earth's crust, and there are 60 minerals that have Magnesium in their composition. Magnesium Oxide (MgO) comprises 35% of the total weight of the Earth's crust and happens to be the second most found component in the crust of the Earth. The ocean waters also house a large amount of Magnesium.
2. What Should your Calcium-Rich Diet Include?
Since our body itself does not manufacture Calcium, we need to provide it to our body by eating calcium-rich food. Therefore some of the calcium-rich food you can eat is - green vegetables which include spinach, broccoli, kale, dairy products which include milk, yogurt, cheese, sardines, white beans, orange juice, etc.
3. What foods are high in Magnesium?
Magnesium-rich food includes Pumpkin seeds, boiled spinach, Pumpkin seeds in the shell, oil roasted peanuts, dry roasted almonds, dry roasted cashews, shredded wheat cereal, plain or vanilla soya milk, cooked black beans whole wheat bread cooked, brown rice, low-fat plain yogurt, potato baked with skin, peanut butter smooth, and many more such foods are rich in Magnesium. Consumption of such foods will help you maintain the level of magnesium in your body.
4. What happens if we do not get enough calcium?
In case of deficiency and Vitamin D, your body starts taking calcium from the bones to support the important functions. This is known as losing bone mass. Losing bone mass makes your bone porous and weak from the inside and this issue can cause osteoporosis. So to get enough calcium it's better to take food that is rich in calcium and also proper recommended supplements to maintain the level of calcium in your body.
5. What is the amount of calcium that a body needs every day?
Different age groups need different intake of calcium everyday for example- ages 0-6 months:1,000mg per day, ages 7-12 months: 1,500mg per day, ages 1-8:2500mg per day, ages 9-18: 3,000mg per day: ages 19-50: 2,500mg per day: ages 51 and older: 2,000mg per day.
6. What are the tips for improving magnesium absorption?
Improving magnesium absorption of raw materials instead of cooking them, trying to avoid or reduce the consumption of calcium-rich foods 2 hours before or after consuming magnesium-rich foods, treating the deficiency of vitamin D in the body can also improve magnesium absorption. Also, magnesium absorption decreases after 60 years of age, and to improve it proper recommended supplements can help.
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