Continued from Part 3
As for getting enough calcium, the truth is that is found in almost every food that we eat. Little sesame seeds have a level of calcium, cup for cup, that is almost ten times as much as milk, but the Dairy Board does not like to advertise this fact.
The other thing to remember is that you need vitamin D in your diet in order to absorb calcium. Vitamin D does not come in a bottle-it comes from about 15 minutes of sunshine a day, with sunscreen on, of course. You see, fresh air and sunshine really do work to keep you healthy, and cost nothing.
Dairy is not a bad thing; the process of how it is made, however, is horrible for our bodies and cruelly exploitative to factory farmed animals.
So if you love milk but hate the chemicals and cruelty, try milk from small, traditional farms (look for them on the store shelves), or sheep or goat’s milk to see what nature intended this healthy drink to taste like.
Try other types of dairy, like natural cheeses. They have amazing textures and are extremely rich in flavor. Keep an open mind, a delicate pallet and go try different kinds of dairy. Studies have shown that it can help build teeth and bones and be a valuable source of protein, and can be healthy for you so long as it is not loaded with chemicals, coloring and flavorings.
Instead of giving the kids chocolate milk in order to ‘bribe’ them into drinking their milk, why not give them a great fruit smoothie. Chances are they will gulp it down and ask for more (see Mara Michaels’ smoothie guides for great ideas for drinks the whole family will love).
Research calcium and make sure you get it in your diet from a variety of sources, and be sure your family is getting a balanced diet that includes all the major food groups each day, including dairy.
