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Calcium & Phosphorus Content of Selected Foods
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Midwest Bird & Exotic Animal Hospital
1923 S
outh Mannheim Road
Westchester, IL 60154
(708) 344-8166

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The following charts show the total amount of calcium and phosphorus in 1 CUP PORTIONS of selected foods. One need look not only at the total milligram (mg) amount of calcium, but also the Ca:P ratio. This ratio should be close to 1:0.5 for the best calcium absorption. The higher the phosphorus amount is compared to calcium, the poorer the absorption of calcium is in the body.
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Food           Calc (mg)   Phosp (mg)  Ca:P Ratio

GOOD CALCIUM SOURCES
Turnip Greens    694        98      	1:0.14
Cabbage outside
green leaves)    429        72          1:0.17
Chinese Cabbage  400        72          1:0.2
Broccoli Leaves  349        89          1:0.26
Watermelon        33         9          1:0.27
Mustard Greens   582       168          1:0.29
Kohlrabi         390       120          1:0.3
Watercress        53        15          1:0.3
Chard            300       100          1:0.33
Collards
(cooked)          14       150          1:0.4
Kale             390       134          1:0.4
Dandelion
(Greens)         168        70          1:0.4
Endive           104        39          1:0.4
Broccoli Stem    111        47          1:0.4
Beet Greens      188        80          1:0.4
Orange
or Tangerine      48        18          1:0.4
Dark green leaf
lettuce           25        14          1:0.56
Parsley           46        30          1:0.65
Spinach          156        92          1:0.6
Yellow Wax
Beans             63        46          1:0.7
Celery            44        32          1:0.7

MODERATE CALCIUM SOURCES
Cabbage
(inner leaves)    46        34         1:0.74
Rutabaga          99        75         1:0.75
Blueberries       33        26         1:0.8
Strawberries      68        56         1:0.8
Squash            36        30         1:0.8
Turnips          112        94         1:0.84
Okra             144       124         1:0.86
Carrots           90        82         1:0.9
Raspberries       82        76         1:0.93
Cantaloupe        64        60         1:0.9
Green Beans       55        50         1:1
Blackberries      43        43         1:1
Yams              44        50         1:1
Guavas            15        16         1:1
Apples            10        10         1:1
Pears             15        18         1:1.2

POOR CALCIUM SOURCES
Parsnips         120       152         1:1.3
Radish            21        29         1:1.4
Apricots          15        21         1:1.4
Plums             20        27         1:1.4
Beets             56        84         1:1.5
Cherries
(pitted)          19        35         1:1.58
Cauliflower       28        46         1:1.6
Broccoli Flowers  85       140         1:1.65
Grapes            19        35         1:1.8
Peaches           10        19         1:1.9
Cucumber          10        21         1:2.1
Pumpkin           46       100         1:2.2
Sweet Potato      19        45         1:2.4
Lettuce
(head, iceberg)   17        40         1:2.4
Asparagus         28        70         1:2.5
Tomato            11        29         1:2.6
Eggplant          22        62         1:2.8
Pineapple         12        35         1:2.9
Bananas            7        22         1:3.1
Peas              56       254         1:4.5
Brussels Sprouts  36       161         1:4.48
Mushrooms         19       131         1:6.9
Corn              16       206         1:12.9
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This is a chart of the Ca:P ratio for various foods and is not intended to be a list of best foods to feed your parrot. Many of the foods that are "moderate" or "poor" on the chart are excellent sources of other vitamins and minerals that are essential to your bird's health.

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