Calcium Depleting Foods!

The following 7 foods are considered “Calcium Robbers” and keep us from absorbing the mineral, calcium; Citrus, Flour, Sugar, Salt, Yeast, Vinegar, and Dairy.  People with any type of Arthritis, Low Bone Density, or Osteoporosis should especially avoid these particular foods.

Of course staying away from ALL of these things is almost impossible, but by limiting many of them, your body will limit the amount of calcium lost on a daily basis.  I have severe osteoarthritis in my jaw joints and have some experience trying to limit these foods from my diet.  Here are some suggestions that have helped heal my body and get me back on the road to better health. 

1.      Citrus- tomatos are very acidic, so try cutting those and citrus fruits from your diet and instead, try eating more berries with higher antioxidant levels.

2.      Flour- Instead of WHITE REFINED FLOUR, try grinding your own grains and using them to make your own breads, muffins, pancakes, etc.  (click on the GRAINS tab to learn more about how to prepare them correctly.)

3.    Sugar- Excess sugar not only inhibits calcium absorption but promotes excess bacteria and candida in the body.  So, eat only unrefined or minimally processed sweeteners such as Rapadura, Raw Honey, Pure Maple Syrup, Molasses, etc. instead of white refined sugar if you have to sweeten things.  Experts on the subject recommend consuming celery, lettuce and chlorophyll, plants rich in silicon (a natural fiber), to help to diffuse buildup of yeast in the body and encourage calcium absorption. Sugar, already shown to be a major contributor to diabetes, also depletes phosphorus, another mineral important in facilitating the absorption of calcium.

4.    Salt- use only Sea Salt and preferably Celtic Sea Salt and go sparingly because a little goes a long way.  Excess sodium in our diet leads to excretion of calcium in the urine.

5.    Yeast- there are many quick breads that use other ingredients such as lecithin or baking soda and baking powder so try eating those instead. 

6.    Vinegar- unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar is a better choice if you have to use any vinegar, but use distilled and other vinegars sparingly.

7.    Dairy- I love cheese, but I try to get Tillamook cheese because they don’t have any growth hormones in it.  I also love milk, but when possible I get RAW MILK (best if from 100% pasture-fed cows) which helps you absorb and utilize the calcium.

DO NOT FEEL OVERWHELMED!  So much information at one time can often make people feel a little stressed and can hurt attempts to make changes in life.  Remember, take one step at a time! 
At least by keeping these seven foods to a minimum, you will do your body a world of good and perhaps later down the road you’ll feel your body beginning to heal itself.  Enjoy eating healthy!