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Need Calcium? A Dairy-Free Diet Can Deliver

Posted by isabel
Kale is High in Calcium
Did You Know that Kale Has More Calcium than Pasteurized Milk? And Kale with Cranberries and Pine Nuts is Yummy!

I was sitting here the other day thinking about that old ‘80s dairy commercial. You know the one with the tagline that says, “Milk Does a Body Good.” The slogan is catchy and unforgettable, but the claims are a bit twisted. Believe it or not, a dairy-free diet will do your body much better than one that contains milk.

From growth hormones, to antibiotics, to pasteurization, to homogenization – there are so many things wrong with the milk nowadays. I could go on for hours about the damage drinking milk can do to your health. This is why I advise people to stay away from the stuff.

The Truth About Dairy and Calcium

I know exactly what you’re thinking. “If I follow a dairy-free diet, how will I get enough calcium to keep my bones from crumbling out from under me?”

The answer is quite simple. Load your plate with veggies, and make your mamma proud by actually eating them. People think I’m nuts when I tell them veggies are a much better source of calcium than dairy. After all, the “big-wigs” who can afford multimillion dollar dairy campaigns say otherwise – and who am I to challenge them?

It’s like this: I’ve always given it to you straight, and I’m not about to hold back now. Contrary to what you were taught, milk does not hold the monopoly on calcium. I repeat. Milk does NOT hold the monopoly on calcium. In fact, milk is not even an adequate source of calcium.

By the time manufacturers finish pasteurizing, homogenizing, enriching, fluffing, stuffing and whatever else they do to prepare milk for the marketplace, a lot of the calcium is unusable by the body. This could be one of the reasons why osteoporosis is on the rise. I won’t even get started on the other ailments drinking milk can cause.

Veggies That Offer Calcium

Veggies that contain calcium are abundant – so there are bound to be some you can’t get enough of. All green leafy vegetables are rich in calcium. Some other veggies that contain this nutrient include cauliflower, green beans, onions, okra, chickpeas, black beans and avocados. This is just a short list. There are plenty of other calcium-rich vegetables out there.

Here’s a plus. Veggies are naturally low in calories. If you really want to see that fat fade into oblivion, replace the dairy in your diet with some of the veggies listed above. FYI, Acid-forming foods like soda, sugar, coffee and artificial sweeteners rob your body of calcium. Avoiding these foods will make more calcium available for your bones.

What About Organic Milk?

I don’t advocate drinking milk. However, if you have to have it, stick with “certified” organic. The standards for producing organic milk are more stringent than the rules for producing conventional milk. Organic farmers are required by law to raise their dairy cows using all natural methods. This makes organic milk a little better to drink (I didn’t say it was healthy).

The problem with organic milk is that it is processed the same way as conventional milk. This means, your body still won’t be able to digest a large portion of the calcium. However, when you opt for organic milk instead of regular milk, your liver won’t have to filter out the antibiotics and growth hormones used to raise conventional dairy cows.

Don’t spend another day in the dark about nutrition and watch this video to see why you can live a happy and healthy life with a dairy free diet. Let The Diet Solution Program arm you with the information you need for good health.

10 Comments

  1. Mika says:

    Hey Isabel,

    Thank you so much for this article. I was concerned that because I was not eating dairy I was not getting enough calcium. So last week I bought some greek yogurt. What is your stance on plain, organic greek yogurt. I’m very curious.

    Thanks!

  2. Lori says:

    Isabel,
    I love your no-nonsense approaches. Thank you. What do you think about Almond Milk that does not contain carageenan? (I’ve only found one brand that doesn’t: Silk Almond milk.)
    Also, any tips you have on converting children (pre-teen and teen) that are addicted to SOME processed foods to eliminating them?
    Thanks a bunch.

    • TheDietSolution says:

      Lori, almond milk is a great choice. You should try coconut milk too.. that’s my favorite! As for converting your children.. I would just try integrating the natural foods more and more often. Eventually they will crave the fruits and veggies instead of the processed snacks they’re used to.

  3. Ted says:

    I am a diabetic and I had to stop the milk with my cereal, I have been off of milk for almost a year. It ran my blood sugar sky high. I use Cocornut milk, Silk and or Blue Diamond, I have lost 40 pounds also.

  4. Barbara says:

    Hello Isabel

    I only needed to lose 5kg and did this so easily following your program. Thankyou. A question on oils now.
    Is hardened coconut oil sold as ‘Copha’ in Australia okay to use? I notice now that it also contains Soya Bean Lecithin.
    What about Bran Oil?

    Cheers

    Barbara

  5. Susan says:

    What about raw milk. I have been drinking raw milk for about 6 years. All my cheese, kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese is made from raw milk.
    when this milk has been tested by the government it always shows up as superior rating.

    (the gov’t, of course, is always trying to shut the farmer down!!!!

    • TheDietSolution says:

      Susan, raw milk is the best! That’s the only type I ever drink and the only kind I would ever give to my son. If you can’t get raw milk, certified organic is the next bet, but it sounds like you have no problem getting raw milk, so that’s awesome!

  6. Terria says:

    You are awesomely informed! I have been studying about milk for some time and everything you say is so true! We drink raw milk and my husband, who can’t have dairy drinks coconut milk. I’m glad to know avocados and onions are calcium rich too as we eat a lot of those too.

  7. sofia says:

    i have a question:should dairy be avoided in any country?i mean,i live in cyprus,a mediterranean island and i think that our milk and cheese (halloumi, for example) aren’t really processed…i would love to know your opinion on that :)

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