One question we always get from our readers is ‘but if you don’t eat dairy… where do you get calcium from when you eat paleo?!‘ First things first, our stance on dairy products. The number one reason we don’t eat dairy: when you think about it… all mammals, including humans live off their mothers’ milk during the first part of their lives. Eventually, the other mammals stop and for some odd reason we move on to cows! Huh?! Number two: it makes us feel sick. This is due to the lactose (milk sugar). Sometimes we eat good quality, organic cheese (maybe once a month). Chris Kresser has a great post about dairy products here that will help you make your decision because as we always say: do what works for you and what makes you feel good! Ok, so where do we get our calcium from?! Here’s a list of where to get calcium when you eat paleo:
- Kale and other collard greens (300mg calcium per 1 steamed cup)
- Bok choy (75mg calcium 1 cooked cup)
- Spinach (244mg calcium 1 sautéed cup)
- Rhubarb (175mg calcium 1/2 cooked cup)
- Other dark leafy greens
- Broccoli (60mg calcium 1 cooked cup)
- Tahini (128mg calcium in 2 tbs.)
- 1 fig (27mg calcium)
- Almonds (94mg calcium in 1/4 cup)
Another super important thing you need to take in to account is that your body requires sufficient Vitamin D to actually absorb the calcium in these foods! So remember to get your daily dose of sunshine. If you’re stuck in an office, foods that contain Vitamin D include eggs, cod liver oil, fish, oysters and mushrooms! Eat up!
So next time someone questions where the heck to you get your calcium from… hand them this list!
Always merrymaking,
e + c