Hmm, I don't like the sound of that. I wonder if this also applies to beta carotene, the precursor of vitamin A??

On a cheerier note, I've made up a list of some food sources of calcium for you, as well as some information about calcium supplements. Most lowcarbers aren't drinking a lot of milk, and many of us cannot consume large amounts of cheese on a daily basis without significant consequence to our weight loss efforts. Note that high-fat dairy products such as cream cheese, cream and sour cream are very poor sources for calcium.

Calcium Content of Foods

1 cup whole milk ...... 291 mg
1% low-fat ...... 300
Skim ....... 302

process cheese, 1 oz. ..... 174 mg
Blue, 1 oz. ..... 150
Brick, 1 oz ..... 191
Cheddar, 1 oz. ..... 204
Colby, 1 oz. ..... 194
Cottage, 1/2 cup ..... 77
Edam, 1 oz. ..... 207
Monterey, 1 oz ..... 212
Mozzarella, 1 oz. ..... 183
Ricotta, 1/2 cup .... 337
Swiss, 1 oz. ..... 272

Ice cream, 1/2 cup ..... 88
Yogurt, fruit, 1/2 cup .....173
Yogurt, plain, 1 cup ..... 208

Almonds, roasted 1/4 cup ..... 69 mg
Beans, cooked or canned, 1 cup ..... 90
Oysters, cooked, 7-9 ..... 113
Salmon, with bones, 3 oz. ..... 167
Sardines, with bones, 3 oz. ..... 372
Shrimp, steamed, 3 oz. ..... 99
Tofu, with calcium sulfate, 4 oz. ..... 145

Bokchoy, 1/2 cup ..... 126 mg
Broccoli, cooked 1 cup ..... 94
Collards, cooked 1/2 cup ..... 179
Kale, cooked 1/2 cup ..... 103
Mustard greens, cooked 1/2 cup ..... 97
Turnip greens, cooked 1/2 cup ..... 126

Calcium Supplements

Calcium supplements may be an alternative or addition to meeting your calcium requirements. Calcium is combined with calcium salts, carbonate, citrate, lactate, or gluconate. It is important to realize that the milligrams per tablet does not reflect the total milligrams of calcium. For example, TUMS, a calcium-carbonate supplement is a 500 mg tablet and contains 200 mg calcium (and sugar). Read the label carefully. A popular supplement, calcium citrate, has a lower calcium content than calcium carbonate, but is much more soluble and therefore more completely absorbed.

A Few More Calcium Hints

It can be a mind game just figuring out what to eat in combination with calcium. Studies indicate maximum absorption is obtained by taking it with food, lactose, as well as other sugars, protein, vitamin D, and water. Some believe calcium is best absorbed at bedtime and may even aid with sleeping. Foods which impair calcium absorption are those especially high in oxalic acid such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, cashews, chard, beet greens, rhubarb, spinach, and peanuts. Other foods to inhibit calcium absorption include fiber supplements, oatmeal, corn, and wheat.

Hope you find this useful,

Doreen