Q: My daughter has dairy and nut allergies. Is there any thing you would recommend? I am worried she is not getting enough calcium. I do serve her kale, broccoli, spinach, and tofu. She does not like soya or rice milk. -Eva
A: Hi Eva,
Have you tried digestive enzymes that include lactase? Lactase will help your daughter's digestive system break down dairy products if she is lactose intolerant. If she has a true dairy allergy, it should be avoided completely. Make sure she has at least one source of probiotics in her diet to boost her immune system. Hopefully she will outgrow her allergies.
If your daughter is not allergic to almonds (almonds are different than other nuts), try almond milk, a good source of calcium.
If your calcium concern is related to bone growth, bone is not solely dependent on calcium. Many minerals and nutrients – magnesium, vitamin D, and boron, for example – work together to maintain a strong skeleton. The latest nutritional research points to three other important team players -strontium, vitamin K, and collagen. Be sure to include mineral-rich foods in your daughter's diet daily, including seeds (only if tolerated), dark leafy greens (steamed), broccoli, and seaweed (a source of over 60 minerals).
