Calcium - Do we REALLY need that much

[Up LEAP 100 Billion]

Hi,

I think the RDA for calcium is 2000mg. Do us on RAW really need all that calcium for our RDA?

I've been looking at raw vegan sources of calcium (listed on these great forums) but to be honest NOTHING is calcium heavy, apart from sesame seeds, and you would need 100g of these to get to the RDA, which then completely sways one carbs/fat/protein ratio if following the 8/1/1 for example.

I know "leafy greens" are supposed to be kings of calcium, but if you are wanting to achieve the RDA, then leafy greens come woefully short. If you wanted to get enough calcium from Kale - one of this richest raw vegan soruces, you would need 600g of it to hit the RDA! That is not my idea of a fun diet or lifestyle.

Basically I just can't see how nature has provided us with enough calcium to "realisticly" hit the RDA. Therefore either nature is wrong or the RDA is wrong. And nature is never wrong...

Opinions?

[VSL]

I think the RDA for calcium is so high because people on a 'normal' or average diet probably lose a lot due to the acidity of their bodies - it's not about how much you take in, but how much you retain.

[Veganforlife]

Also, consider the source that is providing the recommended daily allowance...
RDA is the recommendations for daily intake of specific nutrients for groups of healthy individuals set by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Science. Who ARE these folks? They sound very impressive...uh-huh. I could too if I wanted. I look at it this way. I am surely eating way, wayway healthier then I ever have and feel way better.

[katie01]

I have a nutritionist friend that tells me I need 1200mg a day. It probably varies by individual.

[firefaery]

RDA's are a joke and you shouldn't pay that much attention to them. We do need calcium, but everything is a concert. You can't use that calcium without magnesium, you can't use that without potassium etc etc etc. RDA's don't really get into that, now do they?

Make sure you eat plenty of broccoli, almonds, bok choy, leafy greens- things that are high in calcium and you should do fine. Don't stress about it because in a properly varied diet you will get a bit of everything.

[Gosia]

I would say that your body knows better. If there is some raw food you need, it will taste good. As simple as that. This is how all the animals in the world pick their next meal. So can we.

Gosia

[Spectatrix]

The RDA is 800-1200 mg, not 2000.

[lissomllama]

The standard numbers given by health professionals and the government are all based on those who follow a cooked, on-vegan, 2,000 calorie diet. Raw vegans should not live by those same numbers. More reasearch needs to be done for us. So no, we don't really need that much calcium.

[Naiad]

If you look in the main forum, there is a discussion board called "Need to know more about Raw?"

It's there from Alissa, under the "How much protein do we need?" thread and has a great answer to this question. I just read it myself and happened to see your post :)

[rawfigure]

John Robbins book Food Revolution talks about these type topics. Worth buying to read.

We (and Medical Research confirms) that High Protein leaches Calcium from bones. So if you do not eat animal products and dairy ..you calcium needs are reduced and you veggie diet will give you all you need !