Tricks + Treats To

Green Leafy Vegetables:

• 1 cup loose kale = 53 mg
• 1 cup mustard greens = 64 mg
• 1 cup romaine lettuce = 21 mg

Beans & Legumes:

• ½ cup canned kidney beans = 45 mg
• ½ cup chickpeas = 80 mg
• ½ cup cooked black beans = 40 mg
• ½ cup cooked lentils = 20 mg
• ⅔ cup green peas = 40 mg

Broccoli:

• 1 cup raw broccoli florets = 35 mg
• ½ cup cooked chopped broccoli = 31 mg

Whole Grains:

• 1 cup cooked quinoa = 31 mg
• 1 cup cooked oatmeal = 21 mg
• 1 cup cooked amaranth = 116 mg

Dried Fruit:

• ¼ cup dried figs = 57 mg
• 5 dried apricots = 20 mg
• 1 box (28 g) raisins = 20 mg

Seeds and Nuts:

• 2 Tbsp chia seeds = 177 mg
• 2 Tbsp sesame seeds = 176 mg
• 1 oz almonds = 75 mg
• 1 oz hazelnuts = 56 mg
• 1 oz tahini = 42 mg

Soy Foods: (go organic to steer clear of GMOs)

• ½ cup edamame = 80 mg
• 3 oz tofu = 150 mg
• 1 cup tempeh = 184 mg

 

Now, here’s a little plot twist… not all plant foods are created equal when it comes to calcium absorption. Some have compounds that can slow down the calcium absorption process. For instance, spinach, rhubarb, chard, and beet greens are rich in oxalic acid, which can limit calcium absorption to as little as 5%. But, if you mix them with calcium-friendly greens like kale or collards, they play nicely and don’t sabotage your calcium party.

 

Another calcium party pooper is phytic acid, mainly found in beans. You can reduce phytate content in dried beans by soaking them for a few hours or overnight before cooking them in fresh water. 

 

Supplements can be your trusty allies in the battle for strong and healthy bones. Vitamins  D, K, and B12 are the unsung heroes of bone health, each playing a distinct yet interconnected role in the maintenance of strong and resilient bones. These three vitamins, when properly balanced in your diet or through supplements, create a powerhouse combination to fortify your skeleton, preventing bone loss and maintaining overall bone health.

 

Learn More… Supplements for Bone Health

 

For more unexpected ways to boost your bone density, listen to this Art of Living podcast episode with Dr. Susan Bloomfield, one of the nation’s leading bone researchers. In our conversation, she discusses how her NASA research helped solve the everyday issues of thinning bones. 

 

Vitamin D, often referred to as the “sunshine vitamin,” is a key player in calcium absorption and muscle support, ensuring your bones remain sturdy and your risk of fractures remains low.

 

A typical amount to take is 2,000 IU per day of vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol. Some people find they do better with 5,000 IUs per day.

Vitamin K, both in its K1 and K2 forms, helps regulate calcium distribution, ensuring it finds its way into your bones instead of lingering in your bloodstream or organs.

Vitamin B12, though often overlooked, is a crucial component for bone health, with deficiencies increasing the risk of osteoporosis.