This Combination of Calcium and Vitamins Will Give You Strong Bones and Blast Belly Fat

The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear calcium is: dairy. Dairy does contain a considerable amount of calcium, however, there are loads of other options available.  If you are lactose intolerant, this is great news. Some other options include: leafy greens, seafood, legumes, and fruit. It’s important to get our calcium from these foods because recent studies are showing that the calcium that is found in these foods is better absorbed by your body than anything you will be getting from a supplement. The reason for this is that supplements are just that, supplemental. In order to have healthier bones and greater bone density, we need to be eating calcium-rich foods for maximized effects.

Calcium is also one of the most important minerals to keep cortisol levels regulated.  High levels of cortisol lead to increased belly fat.   Here’s our previous article on belly fat and the golden 3 minerals you need to consume to control it.

*This includes the total amount of calcium you get from food and supplements.

“Calcium is a mineral that is necessary for life.  In addition to building bones and keeping them healthy, calcium helps our blood clot, nerves send messages and muscles contract. About 99% of the calcium in our bodies is in our bones and teeth.”  (www.nof.org/calcium) 

Since our bodies cannot create new calcium, it is up to us to make sure that we are getting enough calcium rich foods in our diets.

One important thing to keep in mind is that your body requires Vitamin D to absorb calcium. Just like calcium, Vitamin D helps children build strong bones and helps adults keep their bones strong.  There are three ways to get Vitamin D: sunlight, food and supplements.

Below is a helpful graph that let’s you know how much Vitamin D you need daily.

“Vitamin D is naturally available in only a few foods, including fatty fish like wild-caught mackerel, salmon and tuna. Vitamin D is also added to milk and to some brands of other dairy products, orange juice, soymilk and cereals. It is very difficult to get all the vitamin D you need from food alone. Most people need to take vitamin D supplements to get enough of the nutrient needed for bone health.” (www.nof.org/calcium)

Talk to your doctor if you feel like you are not getting enough calcium and/or Vitamin D in your diet or if you are at risk for osteoporosis.

Christina