Better Bones, Better Teeth
Want to keep your bones and teeth healthy?
Milk isn’t the only source of Calcium…
Calcium-rich foods keep our bones and teeth healthy. It’s a key mineral for women as it helps prevent arthritis (inflammation of the joint). But don’t just look to milk for this mineral, you’ll find it in some other more surprising foods.
Why is calcium so beneficial? Our bodies contain around 1kg of calcium in our bones and teeth. It is the main mineral we need and is vital to us throughout our lives. Children need calcium to build a strong healthy skeleton. Women (of all ages) need it to prevent arthritis in later life, not just when we start the menopause. We all need to replace calcium at the rate of 1g a day – which does not sound much, but in fact you need to eat a fair amount of calcium-high food to reach that.
Here are the foods with the highest levels of calcium:
- Parmesan cheese contains 1.2g per 100g. (If Parmesan is a bit strong to eat everyday, you could also try Gruyere cheese or reduced fat Cheddar).
- Seaweed (which you can order at Chinese restaurants)
- Fried whitebait
- Sesame seeds
- Sardines (but eat the bones too)
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Chick peas
- Prawns
- Yogurts
- White bread
Calcium also helps our muscles move, heart pump and nerves function. So, if you suffer from cramps or weak muscles eat calcium high foods. You need to have vitamin D to help the body absorb calcium, not a problem if you are outside a lot because our bodies produce it from sunlight! Alternatively you can get some Vitamin D supplements from your pharmacist.
Photo by Rodolfo Clix: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-view-of-woman-with-red-lips-biting-gray-special-wrench-1161929/
