More and more people today have allergies and we are often asked how one should tackle sensitivity — all the while ensuring a balanced diet.
Many parents whose child may react to dairy products due to a lactose or casein allergy have concerns that their child is not consuming enough calcium rich foods.
Calcium is indeed essential for bones and teeth—it is also required by the heart and other muscles for contraction and blood clotting, and is needed for a healthy and efficient nervous system.
Pasteurized cow’s milk, contrary to advertising, may not be the best source of absorbable calcium we can offer our family. With this in mind we ask: is it dairy or is it calcium that is most important?
There are many foods that are high in “absorbable calcium.” These foods help us to ensure our children have a high calcium intake (and us too). All of the foods outlined below are relatively high in calcium.
- Brown rice
- Cabbage, especially the outer leaves
- Carob powder
- Cheese, especially parmesan, Swiss and cheddar
- Egg yolk
- Figs
- Green leafy vegetables (especially parsley, kale, broccoli and spinach)
- Hummus
- Mesquite powder
- Milk, cheese and yogurt from goats and sheep
- Molasses
- Nuts, especially almond and brazil
- Sea vegetables (nori, hijiki, wakame, kelp and kombu)
- Sesame seeds
- Soy beans
- Tea, especially dandelion and chamomile
- Canned fish, especially salmon, sardines and mackerel, all with bones
- Tofu
Courtesy of Dr Jennifer Barham-Floreani at welladjusted.co.
