Does Calcium play a role in sleep?

Are you dealing with sleeping issues? Do you ever wonder why you fall asleep right away only to wake up in the middle of the night and rarely fall back asleep? There are lots of reasons that sleep seems to escape us, it may actually have more to do with foods you eat at dinner, or the lack of nutrients your diet provides that is keeping you from a good night’s rest.

According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), almost six out of ten Americans report having insomnia and sleep problems at least a few nights a week. Insomnia is defined as "An inability to fall asleep or remain asleep long enough to feel rested, especially when the problem continues over time." In an effort to combat this, as many as 25 percent of the people in the United States use medications to help them sleep. 

Most sleeping pills have side-effects that impair memory and performance on the job and at home. So is there an easier way to get the sleep that the body needs and not have to turn to medication.

Yes there is!

Our sleep cycles rely directly on Calcium. In one study, published in the European Neurology Journal, researchers found that calcium levels in the body are higher during some of the deepest levels of sleep, such as the rapid eye movement (REM) phase. The study concluded that disturbances in sleep, especially the absence of REM deep sleep or disturbed REM sleep, are related to a calcium deficiency. Restoration to the normal course of sleep was achieved following the normalization of the blood calcium level. 

Here is why!

" Calcium helps the brain use the amino acid tryptophan to manufacture the sleep-inducing substance melatonin. This explains why dairy products, which contain both tryptophan and  calcium, are one of the top sleep-inducing foods." In magnesium deficiency, chronic insomnia  is one of the main, central symptoms. Now we know why mom made us drink milk before bed! Science and moms are the best!

How do I know if I am calcium deficient?

Calcium is important to maintain strong bones, but if you don’t get enough it can lead to more than just osteoporosis. If any of these signs sound familiar, you might be getting too little calcium.

Weak and brittle nails

One of the most common symptoms of calcium deficiency is weak and brittle nails. If you are constantly experiencing chipped nails or your nails tend to not grow properly, it could mean that you are calcium deficient  

Muscle cramps

Muscle cramps are also early symptoms of calcium deficiency. A single muscle cramp may not be alarming, but if you are experiencing quite a few cramps in a day, there is a chance it may be a calcium related deficiency you are dealing with.  

Dental cavities

Calcium is an essential mineral for our teeth. Therefore, deficiency in the body may affect teeth as well. Your teeth can start to decay when the basic nutrients are not available to support their proper structure and health.  

High blood pressure

According to studies, calcium intake has been associated with lowering high blood pressure. Calcium basically helps blood vessels contract and expand; it also aids the transmission of signals in nerves and cells.   

Vitamin D deficiency

Calcium needs vitamin D to absorb into the body, so lacking on one means, you will likely be low on the other. So, try and increase your calcium and vitamin D supplementation. This is especially important for us living in the north.  

Poor bone density

Calcium deficiency may lead to brittle bones leading to fractures and severe conditions like rickets and osteoporosis. 99 percent of the calcium is stored in the bones and one percent that remains is carried in the blood stream.   

Things to avoid to help you sleep

There are a variety of foods that could be keeping you up at night. The most obvious are stimulants like coffee, soda and snack-food. These items are high in caffeine and sugar which stimulate our body regardless of whether we are tired or not. Our brains might be exhausted, but our body is not able to settle down.

Alcohol is another sleep robber. Alcohol can rob you of your deep REM sleep and can disrupt sleep later in the night.

In Conclusion

Calcium plays a more important role than we think about on a day to day basis, but it affects us more than we notice. At a minimum we should be looking to these levels to make sure we are covering out bases.

How much calcium you need depends on your age and gender. The recommended daily dietary allowances for calcium are:

Age for Male & Female

1-3 years 700 mg 

4-8 years 1,000 mg 

9-13 years 1,300 mg

14-18 years 1,300 mg

19-50 years 1,000 mg 

51-70 years 1,000 mg

71+ years 1,200 mg

Calcium is arguably the most important nutrient in the body with approximately 99% stored within bones and teeth. Calcium is essential for many of the body's functions and dietary intake of calcium should provide all the body’s daily requirements. However, if intake is insufficient over a prolonged period of time this can lead to bone thinning, as calcium is lost from the stores within the bones, and an increased risk of fractures and osteoporosis.

So where can I get the best calcium supplement on the market today? What a great question… go to  shop.nanovatechinc.com  and get started today.