Hello! I have the day off from work, but I’ll still be pretty productive. I have 3 doctor appointments today. (Well, technically 1 is a dentist appointment.) Today I get to see the podiatrist. Hopefully I’ll get all my foot issues fixed. Cross your fingers for me!
Now it’s time for the topic of the day, calci-yum. I threw the “yum” in there because 1) I’m a dork and 2) getting calcium can be delicious. In my One Hot Mess of a post, I mentioned that one of my goals is to actually take my calcium supplements instead of habitually ignoring the bottle on my vanity. Some of you mentioned that you wouldn’t mind a special calcium-devoted post, so here it is.
According to WebMD, our bodies need calcium because it helps to strengthen bones and prevent certain cancers. In addition, Prevention magazine states that calcium and vitamin D can also help ward off type-2 diabetes. The National Institute of Health (NIH) suggests that calcium can also help with weight maintenance; WebMD explains how. Here’s the NIH table of calcium requirements:
We know we need it, here are a few examples from the Milk Matters campaign explaining how to get it.
- 1 cup of milk = 300 mg and calories vary depending on type
- 1 cup plain, fat-free yogurt = 425 mg (note: most yogurt doesn’t come in 1-cup containers) and 127 calories
- 1 cup cooked soybeans = 285 mg and 175 calories
- 1 medium stalk of broccoli = 180 mg and 106 calories
- 1/2 cup spinach (cooked from frozen) = 139 mg and 27 calories
Keep in mind that the body can only take in about 500 mg of calcium at once, so don’t spend get it all in one place.
Of course, you can always pop a pill. One WebMD article says that the type of calcium you take does not matter, so you can just opt for the cheaper one. Getting one with vitamin D is often helpful though, since vitamin D helps calcium absorption. (Most doctors recommend taking supplement with food to promote absorption, but the Dairy Council says veggies and grains can inhibit absorption… hmmmm???) My doctor recommended Citracal, so that’s what I take. Luckily, they have coupons on their website right now.
There’s more to it than popping a pill or eating yogurt. For extra bone health, bone-up on your vitamin D, and include weight bearing exercises in your fitness routine. (Woohoo! All my years of playing soccer helped my bones!) WebMD also gives us the less fun info: limit sodas, antacids, caffeine, excessive alcohol, excessive sodium, and excessive red meat.
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Oh, and by the way, I was going to swim some laps today at the gym, but I’m just not feeling it. I stayed up too late, and although I’m up early now, I think I’d rather just go tomorrow. I’ll probably do some pilates later before lunch instead.
So why was I up late??? IPA Day of course! Here’s what I did: beer shop with drinks and dinner, then a friend’s house to celebrate the occasion.
Do you take a calcium supplement? Did you celebrate IPA Day?
Love, Sweat, and Beers 