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Calcium

 

 

 

 

DIETARY RESEARCH

Calcium

Dairy products are a good source of calcium, with one cup of milk or yogurt providing about 300 mg. But surprisingly, North Americans get about half their calcium from non-dairy sources.

The dairy industry has a huge advertising budget, and spends a lot of that money telling us that milk is THE source of calcium. That we need milk to create strong bones. Maybe... maybe not.

We drink more milk than most other nations, yet our rate of osteoporosis is devastatingly high. Hmmm.

We are the only species that drinks the milk of another species. And we drink it for life. Some people would suggest that cows milk is best for baby cows.

Now, don't get me wrong. I like milk. But I'm not convinced it is the perfect food. How did a Brontosaurs develop such huge bones without drinking milk (for life)? How about an elephant? Big, strong bones... no milk. Giraffes, bears, dolphins, monkeys, rabbits, snakes? You get the point. They all have strong bones, yet they don't drink cow's milk.

Yes, they had other sources of calcium. Here are a few sources for you.

Calcium (mg)
370   Sardines, with bones (3 oz)
300   Orange juice, fortified
300   Soy milk, fortified
225   Collard greens, one cup cooked
225   Salmon, canned with bones, 3 oz
185   Turnip or beet greens, one cup cooked
165   Oatmeal, fortified, one packet
140   Baked beans, cooked, one cup
125   Soybeans, cooked, one cup
125   Tahini (sesame paste), 2 tbsp
115   Tofu, 2 oz
95   Kale, one cup cooked
95   Broccoli, one cup cooked