Calcium & Your Brain

Even from a young age, you probably heard that Calcium is important for strong teeth and bones. It's true. But what often goes unmentioned is another potential benefit this mineral may have—its role in maintaining a healthy brain network (the head-brain, heart-brain, and gut-brain).*

Calcium for cognitive health? It must be a joke, for sure. Well, not according to science. And we love science. :-)

Here's what science says about Calcium's role in transmitting electrical signals in the nervous system:*

An essential nutrient that can do more for you than strengthen your bones.*

Neurotransmitters. Synaptic plasticity. These aren't just fancy terms. They're the essence of our brain's communication system. And, according to recent research, Calcium ions may play a part in guiding the information flow within your nervous system.*

In fact, scientists believe that Calcium may be essential for transmitting signals in the head-brain, facilitating the release of neurotransmitters—the brain's chemical messengers.*^1,2

But what about synaptic plasticity? It's your brain's unique ability to strengthen or weaken connections between neurons, a potentially crucial aspect of learning and memory. And guess who may be in charge of that? If your answer is 'Calcium,' then you may be right.*³

Though that's not all. Calcium may be an essential nutrient for nerve cells' development and function.⁴ From the moment of conception, Calcium is there, likely supporting the growth and development of nerve cells.*

And since Calcium ions can play an important role in facilitating neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity across various types of neuronal cells found throughout the body, this nutrient can potentially benefit the entire brain network.*

• Head-Brain: As mentioned above, Calcium ions are needed in the head-brain for neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity, which can be essential for learning, memory, and overall cognitive functions.*
• Heart-Brain: In the heart-brain, which involves the complex network of neurons in the heart, Calcium helps regulate the electrical impulses that control heart rhythms. This modulation affects emotional processing and stress responses.*
• Gut-Brain: Similarly, in the gut-brain, Calcium contributes to the signaling processes that influence gut motility and enzyme secretion, which are crucial for digestive health and emotional well-being, given the gut’s role in producing neurotransmitters like serotonin.*

And, as mentioned above, research backs this up.

Studies have explored the relationship between Calcium and cognitive health.⁵ For instance, research has identified a potential connection between Calcium and mood.^6,7 It can be a delicate balance—too little or too much Calcium may lead to a lower mood.*

Since your body can't produce Calcium on its own, you must rely primarily on a proper diet.

Luckily, there are quite a few options, even for those picky eaters. Some foods rich in Calcium include:

However, some may not get sufficient Calcium from diet alone. For instance, if you're lactose intolerant, follow a vegan diet, or just not a fan of dairy products, you might find it challenging to meet your Calcium needs through diet alone.*

In such cases, a quality nootropic (or even a Calcium-based supplement) may help increase your dietary intake of Calcium.*