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How To Get Calcium On a Plant-Based Diet

How To Get Calcium On a Plant-Based Diet

When the average North American thinks of calcium, the first thing that comes to mind is milk. Milk and dairy products have often been touted over the years for their calcium content. However, some of the richest calcium sources on the planet are actually leafy green vegetables like kale, swiss chard, and broccoli. These veggies not only contain a healthy dose of calcium but a whole host of other helpful nutrients for our bodies. Read on to find out more about calcium sources on the plant-based diet.  

What Is Calcium?

Calcium is one of the most abundant minerals found throughout our bodies and is essential for supporting and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. A majority of the body’s calcium supply is stored in both our bones and teeth, 99% in fact! The other 1% is used to help maintain the proper functions of our muscles, blood flow, nervous systems, and more. Although dairy is often thought to be the best source of this mineral, calcium is also found in an array of plant foods as well as fortified foods.  

How Much Calcium Do I Need?

It is recommended that the average adult get between 1000mg to 1200mg of calcium per day and is recommended that children between the ages of 4 and 18 intake 1,300mg. The higher end of the average is typically reserved for men and women over the age of 50. Some diets like the vegan diet or plant-based diets can miss out on key intake of calcium or fail to absorb it into the body. One way for plant-based dieters to make sure their bodies absorb calcium is to focus on eating calcium nutritious foods together with those rich in magnesium and vitamin D. Vitamins like iron and zinc can compete for absorption with calcium and should be avoided eating together.  

Sources of Plant-Based Calcium

Here are a few plant-based calcium sources to keep in mind for your diet:Cubed firm tofu in a wooden bowl.
  • Tofu (350mg of calcium per 100g of firm tofu)
  • Kale (172mg per cup of cooked kale)
  • Spinach (136mg per cup of cooked spinach)
  • Chickpeas (105mg per half cup of cooked chickpeas)
  • Almonds (75mg per ounce)
  • Chia Seeds (65 mg per tablespoon)
  • Bok Choy (158mg per 1 cup of cooked bok choy)
  • Collard Greens (268mg per 1 cup of cooked greens)
Other foods and drinks are also often fortified with calcium such as non-dairy milk, cereals, and orange juice.  

How much of the calcium is actually absorbed into the body?

Although the amount of calcium that we intake is important, we should be aware of just how much of that calcium we’re getting is actually absorbed into our bodies. Sodium is one of the biggest contributing factors, as we lose about 40 to 60mg of calcium per 1000mg of sodium excreted from the kidneys. Some research has also shown that higher protein intake can also affect calcium loss, with increases of nearly 50%.   Here are some of the absorption rates of plant-based calcium sources:
  • Firm tofu has an absorption rate of about 31%, which is comparable to that of dairy products without as many saturated fats and 1/10th of the sodium.
  • Chinese mustard greens are typically absorbed around a rate of 40% by the body, giving you as much calcium as 1 glass of milk.
  • Boy Choy, broccoli, and kale all have calcium absorption rates in the 50% to 60% range.Leafy green spinach that is full of calcium as well as other nutrients.
 

Are calcium supplements right for me?

It’s fairly easy to add calcium into your diet with supplements but they can also be hard on the digestive system and may cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Our bodies have a limited capacity to absorb calcium so smaller doses of supplements are ideal rather than a 1 a day vitamin.    Our writers at PlantX talk more about vegan and plant-based supplements on VeganLiftz “Vegan Vitamin” roundup so be sure to check it out! Also, be sure to check out our “Beginner’s Guide To A Plant-Based Diet” to find out more about getting started with plant-based eating.
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