Chinese people pay attention to using form to supplement form, so when they want to supplement calcium, many people will first use bone soup. Is it reliable to supplement calcium by drinking bone soup? Traditional Chinese medicine says: the safest and most effective way to supplement calcium is to increase the intake of calcium in daily diet. So what are the best foods to supplement calcium?
Is it reliable to supplement calcium by drinking bone soup?
The answer is NO.
First, calcium is a mineral that is insoluble in water. Even if a large amount of vinegar is added during cooking to dissolve the calcium, the calcium content in bone soup is still negligible, and the bone soup will become too acidic to taste.
In summary, no matter what method is used to cook bone soup, the calcium content in bone soup is far from sufficient for calcium supplementation, it is just better than nothing.
Second, it is worth mentioning that the calcium content in bone soup is very low. The calcium content in 10 kilograms of pork bones boiled into pork bone soup is less than 150 milligrams. It has been tested that a bowl of bone soup contains about 2-3 milligrams of calcium.
Calculating based on the daily requirement of 800 milligrams of calcium for adults, it would take about 300-400 bowls of bone soup to meet the body's calcium needs.
Third, the claim that "the snow-white soup base is rich in nutrients" is mostly a marketing tactic. The actual calcium content in bone soup is not rich, and during the long simmering process, the fat in the bones is completely cooked out and dissolved into the soup, resulting in a sharp increase in the fat content of the bone soup.
Traditional Chinese medicine concludes that drinking a large amount of bone soup not only cannot achieve the effect of calcium supplementation, but may also lead to excessive energy intake, which is not beneficial to health.
The best foods to supplement calcium
1. Milk
The best source of calcium for the body.
Milk has high nutritional value, with a wide variety of minerals. In addition to calcium, it also contains phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, molybdenum, etc.
Milk is the best source of calcium for the body, and the calcium-phosphorus ratio is very appropriate, which is beneficial for calcium absorption. Common ordinary milk is the best dairy product for calcium supplementation.
2. Sea Cucumber
Rich in calcium, high protein, low fat.
Sea cucumber is rich in calcium and has high nutritional value. It is a typical high-protein, low-fat, low-cholesterol food.
3. Dried Shrimp
Prevents osteoporosis, enhances physical fitness.
Dried shrimp is rich in calcium, second only to sesame paste. Dried shrimp is rich in nutrients and contains protein several times to tens of times more than fish, eggs, and milk. It also contains abundant minerals such as potassium, iodine, magnesium, phosphorus, as well as vitamin A, theophylline, and other components, which is excellent for people with weak constitution and those who need post-illness recovery.
Dried shrimp can reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, prevent arteriosclerosis, and can also dilate coronary arteries, which is beneficial for preventing hypertension and myocardial infarction. Elderly people who often eat dried shrimp can prevent osteoporosis caused by calcium deficiency. Adding some dried shrimp to the meals of the elderly can improve appetite and enhance physical fitness.
4. Mustard Greens
High in calcium, also invigorates the mind.
Mustard greens are not only high in calcium, but also rich in vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin D. Mustard greens can stimulate appetite, invigorate the mind, relieve fatigue, and also have detoxifying and anti-inflammatory effects.
In addition, mustard greens can improve eyesight, aid digestion, and promote bowel movements. They are excellent food therapy for ophthalmic patients. Mustard greens have the effect of preventing and treating constipation, and are especially suitable for elderly people and those with habitual constipation.
As one gets older, only with sufficient calcium can the bones be strong and the whole body can be free from illness and live longer! The safest and most effective way to supplement calcium is to increase the intake of calcium in daily diet, and food calcium supplementation is safer than calcium supplementation through medication and does not cause excessive blood calcium levels.
