Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 99
— Part I 98 high level of vitamin D in the body from exposure to the sun will make the absorption of calcium more efficient. Regulation of the calcium balance is under the control of a hormone called parathormone, produced by the parathyroid glands. This works in conjunction with vitamin D adjusting the absorption of calcium to meet the bodily needs. Calciton is another hormone which also plays a role in regulating the balance of calcium. If there is too much calcium in the blood, calciton takes the excess back to the bone and moreover it slows down absorption from the gut. Sodium and Potassium Let us illustrate the system of Fuj u r and Taqw a from another angle. Sodium and potassium are two elements essential for the maintenance of life. A balance has to be kept between them. However, the necessary sodium-potassium ratio varies in different parts of the body. For example, the bones and the flesh require more potassium than sodium whereas blood cells need more sodium than potassium. An imbalance between these salts can lead to dangerous consequences. The balancing of these two chemicals in all parts of the body is not accidental but is part of a well organised scheme. Likewise, the health of the nervous system is largely dependent on both sodium and potassium but the requirement of nerves for each chemical varies