Got Veg? Calcium Content in Vegetables E-mail
Written by Daniel Chiang   

Got Veg?

A lot of people believe that they have to drink milk in order to get enough calcium into their bodies so that they can have strong healthy bones.

Not true, says Dr. Furhman MD.

Many green vegetables have calcium-absorption rates of over 50 percent, compared with about 32 percent for milk1. Additionally since animal protein induces calcium excretion in the urine, the calcium retention from vegetables is higher. All green vegetables are high in calcium.

The milk industry is very powerful. So powerful, they have enough money to tell the mass public that milk is necessary for strong bones and healthy teeth. But then again, why would they tell you otherwise?

For those of you that are looking to decrease the amount of milk you consume, please see the list below of vegetables and their respective calcium content in milligrams per one cup.

Raw Vegetable 
Calcium content
(mg per 1 cup)
Total weight
(grams per 1 cup)
Alfalfa sprouts 
10
33
Arrowhead 
1
10
Asparagus 
28
134
Mung bean sprouts 
13
104
Snap beans (green or yellow) 
41
110
Beet greens 
46
38
Borage 
83
89
Broccoli Florets
34
71
Broccoli Leaves
24
50
Broccoli Stalks
40
85
Broccoli Whole Plant
42
88
Cabbage, green 
42
89
Cabbage, red 
45
89
Chinese cabbage, pak choi 
74
70
Chinese cabbage, pe-tsai 
58
76
Savoy cabbage 
24
70
Carrots, chopped
34
128
Carrots, grated
30
110
Carrots, strips or slices
33
122
Cauliflower 
22
100
Celeriac 
68
154
Celery, diced
48
120
Celery, strips
50
124
Chard, Swiss 
18
36
Chicory Greens 
180
180
Chives (per tablespoon) 
2
3
Collard Greens 
52
36
Coriander (cilantro) 
30
46
Cress, Garden 
40
50
Dandelion Greens 
103
55
Dock 
58
133
Eggplant 
5.7
82
Endive 
26
50
Jerusalem Artichoke 
21
155
Kale 
90
67
Kale, Scotch 
137
37
Kohlrabi 
32
135
Lambsquarter 
309
100
Lettuce, Butterhead 
18
55
Lettuce, Cos, Romaine 
20
56
Lettuce, Iceberg 
10
55
Lettuce, Looseleaf 
38
56
Mustard Greens 
58
56
Mustard Spinach 
315
150
New Zeland Spinach 
32
56
Okra 
81
100
Parsley 
83
60
Parsnips 
47
133
Peas, Edible Pods, chopped
42
98
Peas, Edible Pods, whole
27
63
Peas, Green 
36
145
Peppers, Sweet (red,green,yellow) 
13
149
Pumpkin, canned
64
245
Pumpkin, flesh
24
116
Pumpkin, flowers
13
39
Pumpkin, leaves
15
39
Purslane 
28
43
Radishes 
28
116
Radish Seed Sprouts 
19
38
Rutabagas 
66
140
Salsify 
80
133
Spinach 
30
30
Squash, summer
23
113
Squash, winter
36
116
Squash, zucchini
23
110
Turnips 
39
130
Turnip Greens 
104
55
Watercress 
40
34
  1. Weaver, C.M., and K.L. Plawecki. 1994. Dietary calcium: adequacy of a vegetarian diet. Am. J. Nutr. 59 (supp.): 1238-41S.
 
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