7 Foods That Are Surprising Sources of Calcium ...

Amaranth is a pseudo-grain that was once a staple food of the Aztecs. It is gluten free and has a pleasant flavor that is slightly grassy. Aside from having a nice flavor and being a gluten free alternative to wheat and other gluten grains, amaranth is also high in calcium. One cup of cooked amaranth provides you with 12 percent of your daily value of calcium. While amaranth would make a wonderful addition to your diet, there are also other sources of calcium that you can try.

Teff is another gluten free grain that has a wonderful molasses flavor, and it is an excellent source of calcium. In fact, it has more calcium than amaranth. A half cup of uncooked teff has 17.5 percent of your daily value of calcium.

Did you think a sticky, sweet syrup could ever be healthy? Believe it or not, blackstrap molasses is a nutrient rich syrup. It has impressive amounts of iron, but it also has a good amount of calcium. Just one tablespoon of blackstrap molasses has 10 percent of your daily needs of calcium.

Oranges are often thought of as being rich in vitamin C, but they are also a good source of calcium. One cup of orange slices will provide with almost 10 percent of your daily requirement for calcium. Since oranges are so delicious and easy to find, it would be a good idea to eat oranges often. They will help you get all the calcium you need.

Dried figs are a sweet snack that is great to have on hand when you are busy. You can take them with you in the car or keep them in your desk a work. While dried figs are a great snack for busy people, they are also a great snack due to their impressive amounts of calcium. Eating one cup of dried figs will provide you with 24 percent of your calcium needs for the day.

Rhubarb stalks have a beautiful red color, but because they are so sour, they are generally used in pie dishes. Strawberry rhubarb pie is a common pie that is available in the summer. Although pie is not the healthiest dish, the rhubarb in rhubarb pie is quite healthy. One cup of cooked rhubarb has 35 percent of your daily calcium needs packed into it. So, next time you eat rhubarb pie, you can at least feel good about the calcium you are getting.

Almonds are a favorite snack food of many people. They are a healthy nut that has protein, healthy fats, and calcium. One serving of almonds will provide you with 7 percent of your daily requirements for calcium. Since a serving is only an ounce, almonds pack quite a bit of calcium. To benefit from the calcium in almonds, try using almond butter instead of peanut butter. It is delicious.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body, and 99 percent of it is stored in your bones. It is a vital nutrient for bone health, which is why you will want to be sure to include these, and other calcium rich foods in your diet. Which of these calcium rich foods is your favorite?

Sources: ods.od.nih.gov, whfoods.org, nutritiondata.self.com, nutritiondata.self.com, nutritiondata.self.com