Partially due to tradition, and partially because we are influenced by the media and the dairy industry, we tend to believe that milk is the best source of calcium, and that if we don’t include it in our diets, our bones are in grave danger. But what can we do to get our calcium needs met when we don’t like the taste of milk, when we don’t have much opportunity to drink it, or when we are suffering from lactose intolerance? In fact, the enzyme that breaks down lactose is present in only minimal quantities in adults, which is why digesting milk becomes more difficult for us as we get older and can lead to bloating.
If you are trying to cut back on dairy products but are worried about how to get enough calcium, be aware that you can find everything you need without having to resort to milk or cheese. In fact, nature is well equipped to help you out, and you can find this important mineral in other foodstuffs, in which you may never even have realised it was present -sometimes in even larger quantities than dairy products (especially industrially transformed dairy). These foodstuffs are good for your health, as they also contain other important nutrients. Here they are:
- Sardines and salmon
- White beans
- Raw kale, green cabbage and broccoli
- Sesame seeds
- Almonds
- Dried figs (and dried dates or apricots)
- Black lentils
- Molasses
- Oranges
- Bok choy (Chinese cabbage)
- Seaweed
- Oat flakes
- Tofu (thanks to the soya beans)