How Do Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc Affect Health?
Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc are the minerals naturally present in the soil, then transferred to plants during their growth, and from plants to the animals, we use as our food sources. This is how these essential minerals get mixed into our daily diet, and later on, help our body to maintain its functioning and health.
Minerals are classified as micronutrients; the nutrients that are needed in fewer amounts, compared to carbohydrates, protein, and fat. These nutrients though not yield energy themselves but their presence or absence do affect the energy-yielding process and other vital processes of the body, in respective ways.
How does calcium affect our health?
Almost everyone is well-aware of the role of calcium in bone development but our body needs calcium for muscle movement, as well. Calcium, along with magnesium, is the basic mineral for bone health. Calcium, with the help of vitamin D, gets absorbed into the bone and provides a firm and compact structure to the bone.
The role of calcium in muscle movement is about contracting the muscle. Whenever we need to move, our muscles contract and relax in a to and fro motion, and, calcium is needed for a smooth muscle contraction.
How does magnesium affect our health?
Magnesium is like a mirror reflection of calcium in most of its healthy functions. Although magnesium is involved in hundreds of body mechanisms, the most prominent are nerve conduction, muscle relaxation, bone strength, and mental relaxation. Why did we say it is a reflection of calcium? We said so because of the way calcium affects muscle contraction, the same way magnesium helps in relaxing those muscles.
Another function registered to the name of magnesium, and similar to calcium, is bone development. Magnesium, like calcium and phosphorus, is needed for strong bones. The mind relaxing effect of magnesium places it in the category of sleep-inducing nutrients, too.
How does zinc affect our health?
Zinc is a strong antioxidant, reduces the activity of damage-causing free radicals, and this is how it positively affects our immune health. Moreover, zinc intake is also associated with efficient wound healing and managing acne issues. The role of zinc in managing acne is linked with its ability to reduce inflammation and inhibiting the growth of acne-causing bacteria.
We have studied solo roles of these minerals but when these minerals are taken in combination, they tend to enhance the working of one another. For example, when calcium and magnesium are taken together, the magnesium helps activate vitamin D and vitamin D helps absorb calcium into the bone. This combination is also helpful in initiating normal muscle movement throughout the body, including heart muscles.
Another powerful combination that positively affects our health is magnesium and zinc. Both these minerals are somehow involved in supporting immune action by reducing inflammation, neutralizing free radicals, and speeding up wound healing, respectively.
When does the need for supplements occur?
The need for supplements occurs whenever there is a severe deficiency of a particular nutrient. A deficiency is diagnosed by the symptoms which result due to that deficiency. For instance, a person deficient in calcium can face the issues of muscle cramps, weak bones, and irregular blood circulation. And, a person with persistent fever, flu, or slower wound healing is often diagnosed as zinc or vitamin C deficient. The deficiency of magnesium is rare but a person who is magnesium-deficient will get to face issues like muscle cramps, mood swings, irregular sleep patterns, and recurrence of headache.
The deficiency can occur by two main factors; less intake or excessive excretion of the particular nutrient. To fulfill the deficiency effectively and rapidly, supplements can be used, and several supplements offer a healthy combination of these minerals.
Nuzinc and Magnesium are two dietary supplements that contain their respective nutrients, Zinc in the form of Zinc Gluconate, and Magnesium in the form of Magnesium Oxide. Both these dietary supplements are promising in their efficacy as the active ingredients present in both these supplements are highly efficient in doing their assigned jobs of enhancing immunity and relaxing muscles, respectively.
Like we mentioned earlier about the combined use of these minerals, Nucal-Z and Nucal-M are two dietary supplements that provide a perfect combination of these minerals in sufficient amounts and with great efficacy. With the presence of Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc, these dietary supplements can help in making bones strong, relaxing the muscles, and giving immunity a boost. Besides, both these supplements also contain a significant amount of Vitamin D3 to enhance the absorption of these minerals.
References:
• https://www.healthline.com/health/mineral-deficiency
• https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-Consumer/
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/zinc
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/286839#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/calcium-magnesium-zinc