Calcium is an essential mineral found in great abundance in the body. Ninety-nine percent of all the calcium in the body is found in the bones and teeth. The remaining one percent is in the blood. Nutrition expert Zoe Bingley-Pullin, shares the importance of calcium and her yoghurt recipe.
Calcium plays important roles in nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and blood clotting. If calcium levels in the blood drop below normal, calcium will be taken from bone and put into the blood in order to maintain blood calcium levels. Therefore, it is important to consume enough calcium to maintain adequate blood and bone calcium levels.
THE FACTS
There are a wide range of factors that can contribute to an increased demand in calcium including bone fracture, caffeine, depression, elderly, high blood pressure, high phosphate intake, high protein and sugar diets, and high sodium intake, lack of exercise, lactation, magnesium deficiency and pregnancy.
A calcium deficiency can bring up a wide range of symptoms ranging from the very serious (osteoporosis being the most obvious) to the not-so serious (brittle finger nails). If you experience agitation, cognitive impairment, depression, eczema, heart palpitations, hyperactivity, insomnia, or muscular cramps, for example, you could be deficient in calcium.
Calcium is not just about dairy so if you’re intolerent to lactose, there are still many sources where you can get this essential mineral. Try almonds, egg yolks, green leafy vegetables molasses, sardines and soybeans. My toasted nuts with strawberry, cinnamon and honey puree on soy milk recipe is loaded with calcium and other minerals and nutrients. Plus it makes for one delicious breakfast!
Toasted nuts with a strawberry, cinnamon and honey puree on soymilk yoghurt recipe
Prep time: 10-15 minutes
Serves: 2
Ingredients:
20 grams of almonds
20 grams of sunflower
20 grams of sesame seeds
20 grams of pepitas
20 grams of walnuts
1 punnet of strawberries
1 tbsp of honey
1 tsp of cinnamon
1 cup soy milk yoghurt
Method:
Preheat the oven to 120C. On an oven tray place all the nuts and bake for 5-10 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
In a blender place the strawberries, honey and cinnamon and blend until smooth.
In a bowl scoop 4 tbsp of soymilk yoghurt followed by the strawberries and then the nuts.
Utensils:
Oven tray
Blender
Measuring spoons
Decorative serving bowls
feature image via pinterest