India shall soon surpass its neighbour, that is China in terms of population. However, as far as its working population is concerned, we are far behind! International Labour Organisation says that only a fifth of adult women had a job or sought one in 2019, compared with three-fifths in China. The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, a local research firm, put the share of urban women in or looking for work at just 7% in November.
But why is that so? It is found that there is a lack of knowledge among the females of the country when it comes to the value of financial independence. While the urban ladies are opting for jobs, there is still a large group of women who prefers to put an end to the career post marriage.
What we collectively fail to instill in our women is the power of financial independence. Given the patriarchal mindset, the society is diving into – there is no point in guessing how deep-rooted and well-planned this lack of knowledge is.
Younger teenage girls are often shown marriage as the ultimate goal of their lives and not even once the value of earning your bread and butter is taught to them.
Independence
When a woman becomes financially independent whether she is married or not, she gets a stand in society. Her opinions are heard, valued, and thought upon. Not just that, with financial independence, a freedom to choose and cut ties with things/people/situations that don’t serve you is possible.
Today, the country is loaded with cases of domestic violence and some women choose to stay in the abuse because they have nowhere else to go. When you are financially independent, your confidence is unshakable and you are well versed with self-sustainability.
I believe, to ensure that women don’t rise and are always unquestionably obeying men, women are not taught the importance of saving, earning, and investing.
The ones who decide to be financially independent are looked down on but do not fall for it. Irrespective of, how rich your husband and in-laws are, irrespective of how little you earn – having a goal, a career, savings, and an empire of your own is always better than being rich and yet having nothing of your own.
We need to tell our little girls, rebellious teens, and younger women that making money is not wrong. Making money is your birthright and financial independence is your ticket to freedom. Your marriage cannot be above your career because, at the end of the day, it is better to own your bread and butter!
I’ve always heard growing up that milk and milk products are the best sources of calcium. Your mother also probably told you the same. But, since I was lactose intolerant from birth, milk and most dairy products have been a no for me. So as I grew older I began to explore other sources of calcium and I found out that milk is not the only good source of calcium out there.
What is Lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is a condition where the body does not produce enough of the enzyme lactase to break down lactose, a type of sugar found in milk. Usually, our bodies make lactase as we grow up and continue to make it as adults. But some people don’t make enough lactase. This can cause a problem because lactose is found in all dairy products. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include stomach pain, cramping, diarrhea and bloating.
As we dig into this article, we will explore some other foods that contain high levels of calcium and see if milk is still the best one!
Milk and Dairy products
Dairy products are a great source of calcium, but they can also increase blood pressure, weight gain, and prostate cancer risk. There are many other good sources of calcium, including certain types of dark green leafy vegetables like kale or spinach, almonds, oranges, broccoli, beans, soymilk and tofu.
Dairy products are a great source of calcium, but they can also increase blood pressure, weight gain, and prostate cancer risk. Also, the milk we get is partially adulterated and is largely produced by artificially injecting the cows. The milk thus carries remnants of those chemicals and is hazardous for health in the long run. And for vegans and lactose intolerant, this option is totally out.
So, you don’t need to consume dairy in order to get your daily intake of calcium. fact, you can get plenty of calcium from other sources, including plants and animals.
Green vegetables
There are many other good sources of calcium, and certain types of dark green leaf vegetables have a lot of calcium. Broccoli has about 100mg per serving, while spinach has over 300 mg in a half cup of the vegetable.
Other good sources include kale, Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, turnip greens, rhubarb and collard greens. You can get about 452mg of calcium from 1 cup of cooked kale.
Soybeans are a good source of calcium, with about 28 mg per serving. They contain over 80% of the daily recommended amount of calcium undefined
Salmon contains good levels of calcium and also omega-3 fatty acids. Consuming salmon is good for the heart, joints, bones and brain. On the other hand, it is also difficult to get a good source of protein from milk.
Nuts and seeds
Milk is not the only source of calcium. You can get calcium from many other sources, including nuts and seeds. For example, 1 cup of almonds contains about 270mg of calcium while an ounce of chia seeds has 272mg. As well as calcium, nuts and seeds also contain protein, fiber, and healthy fats which are all beneficial to your health.
Calcium builds strong bones. Some people believe that consuming dairy is the best way to build a strong body, but these simple nuts and seeds like chia or sesame are a great source of calcium. A handful of almonds or a small serving of pumpkin seeds will provide around 90mg. The best part is that they also have many other health benefits as well! They’re a great way to boost your daily intakes of certain nutrients, such as healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids. These are essential for heart and brain health support.
150 ml of milk = 190 mg of calcium The same amount of calcium is present in ✅ 2 tbsp Sesame seeds ✅ 3 tbsp Chia seeds
Food options for people who are lactose intolerant
In addition to milk, there are other options available for people who are lactose intolerant or have a dairy allergy. These include calcium-fortified soymilk, calcium-fortified orange juice, tofu processed with calcium sulfate, and broccoli. There are many different food sources of calcium, but it will largely depend on your diet preferences. Some options include beans, broccoli, sardines, tofu, turnip greens, figs, spinach and okra.
Calcium is an essential mineral that keeps bones strong. According to the USDA, it is estimated that more than 65% of adults and children do not get enough calcium in their diets. That’s why it is recommended to take a supplement for those who can’t drink milk or other dairy products. But people who are lactose intolerant don’t have to miss out on this important nutrient. There are plenty of food sources out there that contain calcium such as yogurt, kale, beans, and oranges. It just takes a little extra planning to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs.
Conclusion
Consuming enough calcium is important for a healthy body as it helps to prevent osteoporosis. It’s possible to get calcium from other food sources besides milk, so now you have no excuse not to stay healthy!
If you’re looking for more food and nutrition tips from Infano, check out our other blogs here.
Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin has done her masters in Journalism & Communication and has worked as a senior journalist, editor and columnist for leading publications like The Logical Indian, Deccan Chronicle, Worldwide Media Corporation, The Bridge and Provoke.
With Infano, she hopes to create more awareness about women’s health issues. Suffering with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, she has also been advocating for its awareness through media.
