Did you know that the hard water containing calcium bicarbonate (the kind that leaves a calcium deposit in your teakettle) is the best for drinking? As annoying as it is to have those deposits, you should cheer when you see them because then you know you are getting some sorely needed minerals.

Do not confuse calcium bicarbonate with calcium carbonate. Calcium bicarbonate is completely assimilated and builds your bones by combining with the organic phosphorus (an important mineral) found in grains (we do not encourage the dead refined stuff sold nowadays and neither the GMO – genetically modified organism - variety) and lecithin (an emulsifier) in natural fats.

It is this calcium bicarbonate that is essential in the blood stream in preventing children from becoming susceptible to polio, colds and the diseases of childhood which produce fevers.

In fact, calcium bicarbonate deficiency alone can cause a child to have a recurrent fever that disappears at once on the administration of calcium lactate or calcium gluconate (both of which form calcium bicarbonate after absorption).

Calcium deficiency fevers are common in children during the ages of rapid bone growth, especially where the child is getting too much of the cereal foods such as processed dry cereals, without enough hard water calcium. The phosphorus is out of proportion to the calcium bicarbonate intake. Phosphorus needs to be kept in balance with calcium.

Besides the aforementioned fevers, this imbalance being created by the high-phosphorus processed cereals creates an inability to relax and results in what is known as hyperactivity. The child is "wired" and cannot relax or sit still.

This is no different to the feeling you get when you have had too much coffee and the resultant caffeine overload. In most cases, the hyperactivity in a child is merely an imbalance of phosphorus to calcium unless, of course, the child has been consuming high-caffeine beverages but then the solution is still to give them calcium with its balancing partner magnesium and some B Complex vitamins. Give it to the adults too and see how they calm down too.

Calcium, along with its balancing partner magnesium, is perfect for any teething baby too. These two minerals coat the nerves, alleviate the pain and improve their immune function, which results in a much happier baby – and family.

Calcium gluconate is a painkiller far superior to even morphine - without the adverse side effects.