So if you are an American than you are sure to know that drinking milk is the best natural way to get calcium. It’s been driven into your brain by countless commercials from the Dairy companies. But if getting our calcium from milk is really so effective, than why do American’s who consume such a high dose of dairy products have one of the highest rates of osteoporosis in the world? Makes you wonder doesn’t it?
In order identify healthy sources of calcium it’s important to know what Calcium is and why it’s so important.
What is Calcium?
Calcium (chemical symbol CA) is the fifth most abundant element by mass in the crust of the Earth. It’s also the most abundant metal by mass in animal bodies, accounting for 1-2% of body weight, most of this in the teeth and bones.(1) Along with potassium, calcium plays a role in proper metabolic function, cellular permeability, and electrical conductance in your nerves. Muscle contractions, nerve impulses, and properly functioning glands and blood vessels, along with blood clotting, are all functions of calcium-potassium channels. Needless to say, calcium is an important element in the body. Original Post Here
Beside Calcium, our bodies actually need vitamin D, and Magnesium to have proper bone health. It is interesting to note here that High dietary Calcium can cause magnesium deficiencies….So when looking for sources of calcium we have to also look for sources that our bodies are able to digest. According to a recent study, our bodies can digest the calcium more readily from Kale (40% absorption) than from Milk (32% absorption).
More Calcium in Kale than in Milk
However, dairy is not a necessary component in the equation because calcium is available from so many other sources: kale, almonds, sardines and canned salmon with bones, oranges, broccoli, sweet potatoes[….] Of course, the total calcium content of the milk is far higher, but the point is that the acidic nature of milk may not lend itself to proper calcium assimilation.
When all of this is put together, does anyone think that more milk is the answer to keeping your bones strong? It sounds to me like the proper answer is to eat a more alkalizing diet, meaning that at the very least grains have to go, in favor of fruits and vegetables, along with getting plenty of vitamins D and K and magnesium. Moving about here and there wouldn’t hurt anything either. Original Post Here
According to healthaliciousness here are some recommendations for getting calcium:
Best Ways to Get Calcium
Although dried herbs are rarely used in large portions, adding in a few extra pinches to all your sauces, soups, and stews is a great way to get more calcium into your diet. Dried savory tops the list with 2132mg of calcium per 100g serving (213%RDA)…
Sesame seeds provide the most calcium when they are roasted or dried with 989mg (99% RDA) of calcium per 100g serving…
Tofu is most commonly found in Eastern foods, particularly Chinese food. Fried tofu provides 372mg (37% RDA) of calcium per 100g serving, or 104mg (10%RDA) per ounce, and 48mg (5% RDA) in an average 13 gram piece. Tofu prepared with calcium sulfate can provide much much higher levels.
Almonds are a great source of calcium whether dry roasted or made into butter. Almonds will provide 266mg (27% RDA) of calcium per 100g serving…
Perhaps better known for their omega-3 fats, flax seeds also provide calcium with 255mg (26% RDA) per 100g serving… Beware however, as milled or whole flax seeds provide calcium but refined flax seed oil provides no calcium whatsoever.
Green Leafy Vegetables (Turnip, Mustard, and Dandelion Greens, Collards, Kale)
Dark leafy greens are a great source of calcium raw or cooked. Raw turnip greens provide the most calcium with 190mg (19% RDA) per 100 gram serving…
Possibily the largest of all nuts, brazil nuts a
re a great source of calcium. Brazil nuts provide 160mg (16% RDA) of calcium per 100 gram serving…
Herring is a high vitamin D food which aids in the absorption of calcium. Herring provides 74mg (7% RDA) of calcium per 100 gram serving…
Are you worried about your kids calcium intake? When looking for the best natural way to get calcium either for us or our kids, the best answer would be not be from Milk, instead pile up the greens people and do you and your bones a favor!