How to improve calcium intake and absorption the Ayurvedic way
Getting enough calcium in your diet is only half the battle--the other half is absorbing it. Mahirishi Ayurveda shares with us tips for improving Calcium intake and absorption:
- Eat foods that are easy for the body to digest.
- Eat the biggest meal at mid-day, when the digestive fire is strongest.
- Avoid caffeine and refined carbohydrates such as sugar.
- Avoid cold or iced drinks, which decrease the digestive fire.
- Do a daily warm oil massage (abhyanga). It helps enhance digestion and flush away impurities, and is traditionally known to stimulate bone growth.
- Go to bed by 10 p.m. so your body is at rest during its natural purification cycle from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- Eat plenty of foods that are high in calcium, such as sesame seeds, green leafy vegetables, walnuts, coconut and coconut milk. Warm whole milk is also an excellent calcium-booster, but choose unhomogenized milk for greater absorption. To enhance digestion, drink your milk separate from meals.
- Avoid vegetables from the nightshade family, including eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, and yellow, red and green sweet peppers.
Foods to favour:
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