calcium

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted here.

I have lost enough weight to put me back in my acceptable range.  I definitely need to exercise, though.

The other day I was at the health store to buy calcium supplements.  The sales woman told me something I hadn't heard before.  Even though the recommended intake for women is 1000 to 1500 mg per day, she said it is potentially harmful to try to get all of that through supplements.  She recommended taking about 500 from supplements and getting the rest from food.  

Apparently your body is only about to absorb about 20% of the mineral from the supplement.  The rest has to be eliminated by the body.  This can possibly contribute to kidney stones and other problems. 

When you eat food, your body is able to absorb 100% of the mineral.

I guess that's what supplement means, isn't it?  I tend to use them as substitutes instead.  

So, here are some good dietary sources of calcium.  What are some of your favorites?  

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Dairy Foods	Serving	calcium (mg)
Milk, whole, 2%, 1% skim	1 cup	300
Milk, evaporated	1/2 cup	367
Cheese, hard	50 gm	360 (average)*
Processed cheese spread	4 Tbsp	348
Cheese, processed slices	50 gm	276
Cottage cheese, 1 or 2%	2 cups	310
Cottage cheese, <0.1%	2 cups	156
Yogurt, plain	3/4 cup	290 (average)*
Yogurt, fruit bottom	3/4 cup	233 (average)*
Frozen yogurt, soft serve	1 cup	218
Ice cream	1 cup	194
*calcium content varies, check label
Beans and Bean Products	Serving	calcium (mg)
Tofu, medium firm or firm, made with calcium sulphate	150 gm	347
Tofu, firm, made with calcium sulphate and magnesium chloride	150 gm	234
White beans	3/4 cup	119
Navy beans	3/4 cup	93
Black turtle beans	3/4 cup	75
Pinto beans, chickpeas	3/4 cup	58
Nuts and Seeds	Portion	calcium (mg)
Tahini (sesame seed butter)	2 Tbsp	130
Almonds, dry roast	1/4 cup	93
Almond butter	2 Tbsp	88
Sesame seed kernels, dried	1/4 cup	50
Meats, Fish, and Poultry	Serving	calcium (mg)
Sardines, Atlantic, canned with bones	75 gm	286
Sardines, Pacific, canned with bones	75 gm	180
Salmon, canned with bones	75 gm	208
Grains	Serving	calcium (mg)
Oats, instant, regular, no sugar added	1 pouch	165
Non Dairy Drinks	Serving	calcium (mg)
Regular soy beverage	1 cup	110

Vegetables (all measures for cooked vegetables)	Serving	calcium (mg)
Turnip greens	1/2 cup	104
Chinese cabbage/bok choy	1/2 cup	84
Okra, frozen	1/2 cup	65
Mustard greens	1/2 cup	55
Kale	1/2 cup	49
Chinese broccoli (gai lan)	1/2 cup	46
Rutabaga	1/2 cup	43
Broccoli	1/2 cup	33
Fruit	Serving	calcium (mg)
Orange	1 med	52
Other	Serving	calcium (mg)
Brown sugar	1 cup	198
Blackstrap molasses	1 Tbsp	179
Regular molasses	1 Tbsp	44
Asian Foods	Serving	calcium (mg)
Dried fish, smelt	35 gm	560
Soy bean curd slab, semisoft	100 gm	308
Daylily flower	100 gm	303
Sea cucumber, fresh	100 gm	285
Soy bean milk film, stick shape	100 gm	77
Seaweed, Wakame, raw	1/2 cup	63
Seaweed, dry (agar)	1/2 cup	50
Fat-choy, dried	1/4 cup	50
Soy bean milk film, dried	100 gm	48
Boiled bone soup	1/2 cup	negligible

supplements

The ultimate answer to my gallbladder problem, other than avoiding the trans fats, was supplements. I got frustrated with all of the information on line and finally found a nutritionist to guide me. She had me take beet green supplements that cleared the problem right up. I don't have to take them anymore. Only if I have a flair-up and I only have a flair-up when I eat trans fats.
Now, I want to point out that the ultrasound didn't show any stones. If you have gallbladder problems, then consider trying what I did, but keep in mind that what works for one may not work for another. Although, my nutritionist did tell me that she had never seen a patient that did not have good results with that particular supplement.

Now I take fish oil, Borage oil (supposed to be good for skin), Evening Primrose Oil (saved me from PMS), multi-vit, extra B complex, SAM-e (for depression, sleep, and arthritis), calcium and magnesium.
Sometimes when my stomach hurts I take DGL which is from the licorice root. It coats the stomach and heals it. Like natural Pepto-Bismol.

I also take something else that I will tell you about in a separate post.