GFCF Expert Reports.....Making up for lost calcium
 So much of the world is brainwashed by the "got milk" campaign to think that cow's milk is the ONLY want to get calcium into our bodies. There is so much talk recently about osteoporosis (we never heard about it ten years ago). There are commercials for drugs for this condition and clearly, they have found a link to broken bones and osteoporosis. Do they all have a low calcium level in their systems? This is not for me to answer. Instead, I will come up with ways to add calcium in your diet, so indeed you do have the National Institutes of Health daily-recommended amounts. They suggest for children ages one to three years old, they should consume at least 500 mg of calcium each day. Children ages four to eight should consume 800 mgs and children nine to eighteens, 1,300 mgs. Calcium should be given in the morning and again in the evening. If given all at once the body cannot process it well and the body will not retain the important nutrients. There are over the counter, chewy and other calcium supplements one can take. Do NOT take the kind with artificial colors; they are just not healthy for anyone's body. Many of these supplements also contain added sugar, which is not great. There are many beverages with added calcium: Orange Juice, all of the alternative "milks" have calcium, varying from 200 mgs to over 400 mgs per eight oz. To understand mg vs. percent, look at the percent information on the food label, for example, if it says 30%, that means one serving has 300 mg. Other ways to get calcium in your system is to eat dark, leafy vegetables, such as Collards, Kale, Broccoli and Okra. Try mixing some of these vegetables into dishes, hidden. You can always buy calcium powder, too. It is a good idea to get it with vitamin D and Magnesium added- this helps with absorption. Several companies make a colorless, tasteless variety. It is easy to mix into food or drinks. |
