What to say to people

[texasgirl]

Hi everyone. I am still very new to raw foods but I have been doing well for three days, and I must say I feel better already and things are tasting great. The bonus is I got an Excalibur dehydrator today and am currently making some cc cookies, I can't wait. I have a question about calcium, I know some people will ask me how am I getting my calcium, and I don't know the answer to that, and I don't want to hear judgment from anyone that I am not getting enough, I know protein is from green leafy vegetables, right :) ? Can someone please explain to me so I can have an answer ready when I get questioned. Thanks and my best to everyone.

[StudentforLife]

I know that figs are a good source of calcium. I'm still trying to learn the whole which nutrient is in which food thing, too.

If someone is giving you a hard time about the whole calcium thing, just tell them that the countries where they consume the most dairy have the highest rate of osteoporosis, with the US being #1. That's always a good fact to speak about.

[yeahbethany]

Hey there,
This isn't a "pat answer" (which probably wouldn't help so much anyway, since every situation can be slightly different...), but a good resource to check out would be Dr. Graham's "Succeeding Socially on Raw Foods." It's sold as a CD and it's available on his website (www.foodnsport.com). A good listen and helps with a lot of situations.

It can take lots of practice...

-Bethany

[Biff]

You can tell them that green leafy vegetables and sesame seeds have plenty of calcium. Tell them that vegans have stronger bones than meat eaters and if they want to know more about it, that they can read "The China Study" or suggest that they meet you out with some of your raw friends who can tell them more info on calcium. They might ask you more info if they are truly curious.

Another method is to ask them, "Where do the cows get their calcium? They only eat grass!"

Once you are doing raw long enough, you will be able to nail the protein and the calcium questions, and also you will be able to easily figure out when someone is truly seeking answers or if they are just trying to hassle you.

[Sharon in Colorado]

There are a number of things you can do.

Some people suggest just saying you feel great, have no problems with bones and never really think about all your nutrients since you eat fresh food.

You can also say everything you eat has calcium, and where do they get their calcium?

You can go into detail about how calcium is much more available and useable in fresh plant form.

Or you can ask them why they want to know and what about their diet?

There are so many ways to answer, it also depends on how the question is asked.

[michigan roman]

just to chip in that almonds and brocoli are also good calcium sources .

[michigan roman]

and on the question of what to say when asked how you get calcium my reply =

how did people get their calcium before they started domesticating critters to milk thousands of years ago ?

answer = plants just like monkeys and every other herbivorious creature on the planet does . calcium doesnt come from creatures , it comes from the soil !

[VeryBerry]

Sesami seeds have lots of calcuim. I would not advise getting into agruments with people and tring to prove your point of view, what you choose to eat is no one's business but your own.

[texasgirl]

Thank you all very much this information it will be very helpful, not to mention just good for me to know.

[sport]

Calcium content of foods (per 100-gram portion)
(100 grams equals around 3.5 ounces)

1. Human Breast Milk 33 mg
2. Almonds 234 mg
3. Amaranth 267 mg
4. Apricots (dried) 67 mg
5. Artichokes 51 mg
6. Beans (can: pinto, black) 135 mg
7. Beet greens (cooked) 99 mg
8. Blackeye peas 55 mg
9. Bran 70 mg
10. Broccoli (raw) 48 mg
11. Brussel Sprouts 36 mg
12. Buckwheat 114 mg
13. Cabbage (raw) 49 mg
14. Carrot (raw) 37 mg
15. Cashew nuts 38 mg
16. Cauliflower (cooked) 42 mg
17. Swiss Chard (raw) 88 mg
18. Chickpeas (garbanzos) 150 mg
19. Collards (raw leaves) 250 mg
20. Cress (raw) 81 mg
21. Dandelion greens 187 mg
22. Endive 81 mg
23. Escarole 81 mg
24. Figs (dried) 126 mg
25. Filberts (Hazelnuts) 209 mg
26. Kale (raw leaves) 249 mg
27. Kale (cooked leaves) 187 mg
28. Leeks 52 mg
29. Lettuce (lt. green) 35 mg
30. Lettuce (dark green) 68 mg
31. Molasses (dark-213 cal.) 684 mg
32. Mustard Green (raw) 183 mg
33. Mustard Green (cooked) 138 mg
34. Okra (raw or cooked) 92 mg
35. Olives 61 mg
36. Orange (Florida) 43 mg
37. Parsley 203 mg
38. Peanuts (roasted & salted) 74 mg
39. Peas (boiled) 56 mg
40. Pistachio nuts 131 mg
41. Potato Chips 40 mg
42. Raisins 62 mg
43. Rhubarb (cooked) 78 mg
44. Sauerkraut 36 mg
45. Sesame Seeds 1160 mg
46. Squash (Butternut 40 mg
47. Soybeans 60 mg
48. Sugar (Brown) 85 mg
49. Tofu 128 mg
50. Spinach (raw) 93 mg
51. Sunflower seeds 120 mg
52. Sweet Potatoes (baked) 40 mg
53. Turnips (cooked) 35 mg
54. Turnip Greens (raw) 246 mg
55. Turnip Greens (boiled) 184 mg
56. Water Cress 151 mgFrom: "Roger Haeske" <rh@superbeing.net>

Notice where they give the levels in raw and cooked for the same produce the raw levels are higher.

[lily]

You can say that you get calcium from the same place that elephants get it, with their big bones and tusks; the same place that the cows get it to produce their milk (and build their bones) -- greens, and other fruits and veggies...

lily

[Ginger]

Hey sport where did you find that list?

[Shmoopie]

Thanks for that list, Sport!

But yeah, it's like Roman said...it doesn't come from creatures, it comes from soil. Maybe you'll want to point out that calcium is a mineral because I don't think most people realize that. I think that when they say or hear "calcium", they think "milk" and completely forget that it's a mineral that comes from the earth.

[texasgirl]

Wow, that list was sooo helpful. Thanks to everyone. Thank you so much for the idea of just saying that it is a mineral and does come so easily, that I had overlooked, what a great idea. Again thanks to everyone.