Calcium For Dairy-free Children

[B'sgirl]

I have just taken my toddler off of dairy foods because he was still having digestive troubles after removing gluten from his diet. How do I make up for the calcium he is not getting from milk? What foods are high in calcium? I have been giving him almond milk but I don't think it has enough in it, and he takes Usana's Usanimal vitamins but they don't have that much calcium either.

[Ursa Major]

I have just taken my toddler off of dairy foods because he was still having digestive troubles after removing gluten from his diet. How do I make up for the calcium he is not getting from milk? What foods are high in calcium? I have been giving him almond milk but I don't think it has enough in it, and he takes Usana's Usanimal vitamins but they don't have that much calcium either.

The dairy industry has brainwashed the public to believe we get calcium from dairy, and that we in general, but especially children and lactating mothers, won't get enough calcium without drinking a lot of milk.

The reality is, that because of pasteurization, which kills the enzyme that allows us to use the calcium from dairy, it leaches calcium OUT of our bones, rather than putting it in! Research has shown that North America, which has the highest consumption of dairy in the world has also the highest rate of osteoporosis in the world. I don't believe that is a coincidence.

So, what does have calcium? Green leafy vegetables are the best source of calcium (green vegetation is giving elephants and cows etc. the calcium for their large, heavy bones). If you feel that your child is not eating enough green vegetables, you may want to get a liquid calcium/magnesium supplement.

It is very important that people get enough vitamin D, because without it we can't use the calcium from ANY source. Anybody who doesn't get enough sun (and very few people do) to get the optimal amount of vitamin D needs to take supplements. The easiest and best way to supplement with vitamin D is cod liver oil (Carlson makes the best one, which also doesn't taste bad).

[missy'smom]

Open Original Shared Link

I was looking up dairy-free calcium for myself this morning and came across these. The same company also has a fruit flavor chewable in addition to the one pictured.

Came across this too. Open Original Shared Link

[taweavmo3]

We are all dairy free, including my four kids. It's been almost a year since taking it out of our diet, and we have been healthier than ever. I hope you see good results as well!

As for calcium, there are alot of other foods that are calcium rich. Check out Open Original Shared Link, they have alot of helpful information. From this site, I printed out a list of calcium rich foods to keep on my fridge. We all drink calcium fortified orange juice, which actually has more calcium (we use Minute Maid Kids) per cup than cow's milk. On the days when I don't feel like the kids are eating as many veggies as usual, I sometimes add Open Original Shared Link to their juice or a fruit smoothie. It tastes good (not great, but it's easily blended into something else) and I know they have their entire calcium requirement for the day. Like Ursa said above, there really is no need to stress about calcium. A varied diet, with veggies, fruit and whole grains (like Quinoa, a real power food filled with good stuff) will have plenty of calcium, with better absorption. Hope that helps!

[Juliebove]

Greens are high in calcium. I get my daughter to eat salad as often as I can. She is 9 now and only just now will eat it. She wouldn't eat much of it when she was younger.

For cooked foods, I add greens whenever I can. For hamburger gravy, I add Swiss chard that has been cut into fine slivers. She will eat it if she doesn't see big chunks of it in there. For meatloaf, I add a handful of spinach that has been chopped in the food processor. Finely chopped greens can be added to soups. I add parsley to mashed potatoes.

I also give her L'il Critter Groovy Calcium Gummy Bears.

[confusedks]

Ursa Major,

What flavor of Cod Liver Oil do you buy? (Specifically the Carlson brand) Is there a certain kind I should look for? Because I am Vit. D deficient.