Some food combinations create nutritional synergy, like plums increasing iron absorption. On the other side of the spectrum are food pairings that block absorption of vitamins and minerals. 
Calcium, a vital mineral for bone health, can be negatively affected by seemingly innocent foods. Two types of chemicals, oxalates and phytates, bind to the calcium and block your bodies ability to absorb the mineral.
Oxalates are found in spinach and rhubarb and phytates are found in bran and beans. Cheese sprinkled on a spinach salad should not be factored into your daily total of calcium consumption. Same goes for milk you eat over your bran cereal.
Since eating calcium is better absorbed by your body than a calcium supplement, make sure you're not undermining your efforts by combining the mineral with an unwanted chemical.
Laura Biagiotti
Esprit
Et Vous
According to wikipedia, only 5% of the calcium in spinach (a veggie touted as being high in calcium) is absorbed?!
I feel like I was lied to all these years!
I am pretty sure a good chunk of my presumed calcium came from chocolate soy milk, too! Chocolate also interferes with absorption according to what I just read in some medical articles.
Argh, my bones are gonna be crap.
I need to read more about this!
1My understanding is that it is only the minerals *in* the foods with the oxalates or phytates that are not absorbed and not the minerals in other foods eaten *with* the food with phytates/oxalates? Am I wrong?
eg. the calcium in spinach is not absorbed effectively but the calcium from the cheese still would be
2i always find myself to be challenged by what foods are best for me and what are not doing much at all. it's hard because you learn to listen to your parents about what's best for you - and through the years that have been so many studies that have told me otherwise, that now my diet is incredibly different than that of my family's because i've learned what's better for me instead of just listening. this is really helpful cause i like to learn new things that would make my body healthier.
3oh wow, this is new to me.
4wow, didn't know this. i used to eat bran cereal with my yogurth. good thing i switched to rice and wheat.
5Great tips Miss Fit!
6interesting!
7Really interesting! My grandma needs a lot of calcium right now (her doctor says it isn't enough) and maybe some of the foods that we give to her aren't really good. How can we eat healthy with a good dose of calcium without neglecting it?
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