The Everyday Calcium Cookbook: Calcium-Rich Nutrition for Whole-Body Health

Arlene Gryfe is a Toronto-based professional nutritionist and home
economist.

Helen Bishop MacDonald is a former university professor and a
knowledgeable dietitian. In this excellent book, she discusses in
accessible language the role of calcium in various stages of life and,
in one chapter, current medical thinking concerning chronic illnesses
associated with calcium-poor diets.

Calcium has important functions in the body besides building strong
bones and teeth. It circulates throughout the body and is maintained at
a constant level in the blood, with small but normal losses in the
urine. Calcium is predominantly stored in the bones, and is available
for withdrawal to the blood when needed. If not replaced back into the
body through a healthy diet, the bones become weaker, osteoporosis may
develop, and eventually the bones may break.

Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium. MacDonald’s
book includes an in-depth discussion of the sources, conversion of
precursors, and calcium’s interrelationship with other nutrients.

Contrary to popular belief, we never outgrow our need for milk, one of
the best sources of calcium. The author presents a list of sources,
suggests ways to increase your intake, and discusses the role of
supplements. Alternative strategies are outlined for those individuals
who cannot tolerate milk or milk products.

The book’s sections—“Breakfast and Brunch,” “Appetizers,”
“Soups,” “Salads,” “Vegetable and Side Dishes,”
“Casseroles,” “Desserts,” and “Beverages”—feature more
than 70 tasty recipes, in both metric and imperial measurements. All
have nutrient analyses of calories, protein, carbohydrates, and fat
(including saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated), as well as
10 major vitamins and minerals. Amusing anecdotes or useful tips
accompany each recipe.

Eight pages of colour photographs offer attractive presentation ideas.
There is an extensive cross-index of recipes and calcium information, as
well as a lengthy bibliography for those wishing to pursue the subject
in greater depth.