14 DAY TRIAL // A new study comes to show that overweight women might have yet another strong, natural ally in their fight against the pounds: calcium. Those who increased their calcium intake throughout the duration of the study by as much as twice lost more weight faster. With this in mind, the increasing consumption of calcium-rich foods is a must if shedding the pounds is what we’re seeking to achieve, health experts say.
Ever since school, we’ve been hearing that dairy products are rich in calcium, which is why we’re always quick to buy some whenever we feel or are told that our calcium is down, meaning when symptoms like weakness, numbness and muscle pain or spasm appear. While this is certainly the case, if diversity is what we’re looking for, then we should perhaps also bear in mind that some vegetables are also rich in calcium and thus help us build stronger bones and, at the same time, lose more weight.
The recommended daily requirement for calcium for adults under 50 is 1,000 mg, and 1,200 mg for those who are past that age. In order to reach this recommended value and top it to assist us in losing weight, below is a table with other foods that are rich in calcium, courtesy of WHFoods:
- Spinach: 245 mg calcium per cup; - Collard greens: 226 mg per cup; - Yogurt: 447 mg per cup; - Goats milk: 325 mg per cup; - Cows milk: 296 mg per cup; - Sesame seeds: 351 mg per one quarter cup; - Tofu: 100 mg per four ounces.
If we’re also considering that the aforementioned study showed that women who made sure their body did not lack calcium lost an average of 5 kg (13.2 pounds) more than those who relied on diet alone, eating calcium-rich foods seems to be the best choice we’re presented with right now.
Researchers said at the conclusion of the study that the extra weigh loss could be explained by the fact that the brain could detect “when the body lacks sufficient calcium, so it tries to make up for the deficit by promoting food intake, which works against weight loss. Getting the recommended amount of calcium, however, seems to reduce the desire to eat more.” as the Examiner informs.
On a final note, if we’re really considering dieting to lose weight, health experts also advise, we should not even pay attention to fad diets, and go, instead, for something healthy that covers all the bases in terms of our body’s needs.