Does cows milk really contain much calcium or is it just a reason concocted to g

1. 60

   keepitnaturalposted 14 years ago

   Does cows milk really contain much calcium or is it just a reason concocted to get us to buy it? Are
   
   alternative milks such as goats milk or rice milk just as beneficial to our health & rich in calcium?
   I have chosen to bring my kids up dairy-free, (4yrs & 18 mths old) should I be supplementing their diet in any other specific way in order to ensure they are getting enough calcium?

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2. 59

   MelissaBarrettposted 14 years ago

   Unfortunately, you probably should be supplimenting, unless you are relying very very heavily on goats milk.  Rice milk contains no calcium on its own.  It is "fortified", which means calcium is added.  Unfortunately, this calcium suffers from the same problems as many supplements, it is poorly absorbed by the body.
   
   Calcium is contained in other foods, but kale and other dark green leafies aren't generally popular with the toddler club.  (iceburg and other salad lettuces don't really contain significant amouts of calcium) There are other sources (that are about as kid friendly), but they are pretty insignificant unless eaten in large quatities.
   
   I would say better safe than sorry and go ahead and add a suppliment to their diet.  I'm in the same boat, we are doing GF/CF.  Good luck, the benefits are usually worth the frustration.

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3. 84

   WriteAngledposted 14 years ago

   Dairy products do have high levels of calcium. However, sardines, salmon, tofu all have pretty high levels. Green vegetables can also contribute significantly to calcium intake, although levels are a bit lower than the previously listed foods. Sesame seeds have high levels, but there is a bit of controversy about them, because some people claim the calcium from sesame is not absorbed well. Here are some official figures for calcium in foods from the Office of Dietary Supplements: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium/
   
   Of course, there is also the possibility of using a calcium supplement. I occasionally use a liquid calcium + magnesium supplement as I find it helps to reduce the frequency leg cramps, which tend to plague me.

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4. 62

   TheBlondieposted 14 years ago

   Yes and no. Yes, there is some calcium in milk, but there are other nutrients that actually take calcium from your bones. So basically, there is calcium in milk, but unless you are drinking tons of liquid vitamin D you aren't really getting any of it. Try taking a calcium supplement instead, much more effective.

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5. 61

   Chuck Bluesteinposted 14 years ago

   I guess that I need to make a hub about this to clear this up. Cows milk has a lot of calcium and cheese has even more. Ameicans eat plenty of cheese like on a pizza but have high rates of osteoporosis and weak bones.
   
   A lot of high protein animal foods in the diet make the body too acid leading to many diseases. The body tries to neutralize this acid by taking calcium out of the bones. This calcium is then bonded to the acid and is then urinated out.
   
   So Americans have lots of calcium in their diet but also have lots of calcium in their urine. The latter is where the problem is at. So get your calcium from foods like oranges and green leafy vegetables.

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