Calcium is an essential mineral for maintaining healthy bones – a factor in the development in numerous diseases such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and others. And while you may think that you take in enough calcium throughout the day, or that you need to consume meat or dairy to take in enough calcium, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Like vitamin B12, which is found in meat, calcium is another substance that is thought to be very difficult to find when only focusing on vegan food sources. But the good news for everyone – vegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters alike - is that there are numerous vegetables out there that contain notable amounts of calcium. What’s more, these vegetables provide a wealth of other health benefits while providing this essential mineral.
An excellent source of calcium, kale offers a whopping 139mg per 100g serving of the vegetable and offers very absorbable calcium. Kale also contains over 45 different flavonoids, offering ultra potent antioxidant benefits. [1]
Collard greens are a great choice and very high in calcium. A 1 cup serving offer 357mg (35% DV). [2]
Along with vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, and dietary fiber, broccoli has about 74mg of calcium per cup. [3]
Also rich in potassium and iodine, kelp contains about 136mg of calcium in a one cup serving. [4]
This incredibly healthful green veggie contains about 56mg/cup. A 100g serving would equate to about 145mg of calcium. In addition, spinach also contains immune-boosting vitamin C, vitamin A, manganese, and a mega-serving of vitamin K. Populations all over the world rely on spinach for nutrition. [5]
You can expect to find about 175mg of calcium within a cup of soybeans. Note: While soybeans can provide you with the calcium you’re looking for, this food is almost always genetically modified, presenting a danger to your health. If you are eating soybeans, make sure that this food especially is 100% organic. [6]
While the above foods may be enough for any vegan, vegetarian, or even meat eater to take in enough daily calcium, this is hardly an exhaustive list. There are many other vegetables and even fruits that are a great source of calcium.
Supplementation is also a viable option, at least if you use the right type of supplement. Don’t bother with those chalky calcium supplements you can find at the gas station checkout. Because magnesium is essential for calcium absorption,[7] always look for a calcium supplement with magnesium. I recommend IntraCal™. IntraCal puts calcium orotate and magnesium orotate together in an easily swallowed Kosher certified vegetarian capsule to make the most bioavailable calcium supplement on the market.
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