Top 20 Vegetables Highest in Calcium


Calcium is a mineral necessary for the growth and maintenance of strong teeth and bones, nerve signaling, muscle contraction, and secretion of certain hormones and enzymes. (1)
A deficiency in calcium can lead to numbness in the fingers and toes, muscle cramps, convulsions, lethargy, loss of appetite, and abnormal heart rhythm. (1)
Finding calcium in vegetables and fruits is a concern for vegans, or those on a raw food diet. While there is some evidence that oxalates in vegetables can hinder calcium absorption, they are still a good source of calcium. (1) Futhermore, and the calculated daily value (DV) already takes into account absorption and bio-availability. For more, see the section on calcium absorption.
Vegetables high in calcium include collard greens, spinach, turnip greens, kale, mustard greens, beet greens, bok choy, okra, Swiss chard, and broccoli raab. (2) The daily value (DV) for calcium is 1300mg. (1, 3)
Below is a list of high calcium vegetables, for more see the list of high calcium fruits and high calcium foods.
You can also see 200 vegetables high in calcium using the nutrient ranking tool.
List of Vegetables High in Calcium

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
268mg (21% DV) | 141mg (11% DV) | 855mg (66% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
245mg (19% DV) | 136mg (10% DV) | 1183mg (91% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
197mg (15% DV) | 137mg (11% DV) | 1370mg (105% DV) |
Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
172mg (13% DV) | 132mg (10% DV) | 943mg (73% DV) |

Calcium per Cup | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
165mg (13% DV) | 118mg (9% DV) | 908mg (70% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
164mg (13% DV) | 114mg (9% DV) | 844mg (65% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
158mg (12% DV) | 93mg (7% DV) | 1550mg (119% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
123mg (9% DV) | 77mg (6% DV) | 700mg (54% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
102mg (8% DV) | 58mg (4% DV) | 580mg (45% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
100mg (8% DV) | 118mg (9% DV) | 944mg (73% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
94mg (7% DV) | 59mg (5% DV) | 227mg (17% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
90mg (7% DV) | 44mg (3% DV) | 157mg (12% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
84mg (6% DV) | 41mg (3% DV) | 205mg (16% DV) |

Calcium per Cup | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
83mg (6% DV) | 138mg (11% DV) | 767mg (59% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Mashed | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
77mg (6% DV) | 30mg (2% DV) | 59mg (5% DV) |

Calcium per Cup | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
67mg (5% DV) | 43mg (3% DV) | 205mg (16% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
62mg (5% DV) | 40mg (3% DV) | 229mg (18% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
56mg (4% DV) | 36mg (3% DV) | 200mg (15% DV) |

Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
55mg (4% DV) | 59mg (5% DV) | 146mg (11% DV) |
- 1 cup of boiled soybeans (edamame) provides 13% DV (175mg) of calcium
See all beans and legumes high in calcium.
Calcium per Cup Cooked | Calcium per 100g | Calcium per 200 Calories |
---|---|---|
55mg (4% DV) | 44mg (3% DV) | 251mg (19% DV) |
See All 200 Vegetables High in Calcium

Factors which Affect Calcium Absorption
- Amount of Calcium Consumed - The more calcium you consume, the less you absorb. Though consuming more calcium will increase your total level. (1)
- Age - Children absorb about 60% of the calcium from foods, while adults absorb only 20%. Calcium absorption decreases with age and people over 50 should eat more calcium. (1)
- Pregnancy - Pregnant women absorb more calcium. (1)
- Vitamin D Intake - Vitamin D enhances calcium absorption. It can be found in foods or created by exposing skin to sunshine. (1)
- Phytic and Oxalic Acid - Even though some studies suggest phytic and oxalic acid affect calcium absorption, people eating a balanced diet will not be affected. Further, the percent daily value already accounts for this absorption factor. High amounts of oxalic acid are found in plant foods like spinach, collard greens, sweet potatoes, rhubarb, and beans. Phytic acid is found in whole bread and wheat bran. (1,4,5,6)
- Sodium, Protein, Alcohol, Caffeine (Coffee and Tea) - A diet high in sodium, protein, alcohol, and caffeine (coffee and tea) can reduce absorption and retention of calcium by causing more calcium to be excreted. Alcohol also interferes with the metabolism of vitamin D. (1)
- Vinegar May Increase Absorption - A study on the absortpion of calcium in rats found that when the diet was composed of 1.6% vinegar the rats absored more calcium and also had stronger bones. (7)
About the Data
Data for the curated food lists comes from the USDA Food Data Central Repository.
You can check our data against the USDA by clicking the (Source) link at the bottom of each food listing.
Note: When checking data please be sure the serving sizes are the same. In the rare case you find any difference, please contact us and we will fix it right away.
About Nutrient Targets
Setting targets can provide a guide to healthy eating.
Some of the most popular targets include:- Daily Value (%DV) - The %DV is a general guideline for everyone and accounts for absorption factors. It is the most common target in the U.S. and is the target on the nutrition labels of most products. It is set by the U.S. FDA.
- Reference Dietary Intake (%RDI) - The Reference Dietary Intake (RDI) is a customized target accounting for age and gender. It is set by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. The RDI for amino acids is set by the U.N. World Health Organization. The daily value (%DV) builds on the reference dietary intake to create a number for everyone.
- Adequate Intake (%AI) - Sets a target for Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats. The Adequate Intake is also set by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. It represents a number to ensure adequacy but lacks the same level of evidence as the Reference Dietary Intake. In short, the number is less accurate than the RDI.
See the Guide to Recommended Daily Intakes for more information.
Want to set your own targets? Sign up for an account and set custom targets in the daily meal planner.From the Nutrient Ranking Tool
- Foods High in Calcium
- Foods Low in Calcium
- Vegetables High in Calcium
- Fruits High in Calcium
- Vegetarian Foods High in Calcium
- Nuts High in Calcium
- Grains High in Calcium
- Beans High in Calcium
- Dairy High in Calcium
- Breakfast Cereals High in Calcium
- Fast Foods High in Calcium
View more food groups with the nutrient ranking tool, or see ratios with the nutrient ratio tool.
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Related
Data Sources and References
- Office Of Dietary Supplements Fact Sheet: Calcium
- U.S. Agricultural Research Service Food Data Central
- NIH: Dietary Supplement Label Database
- In vitro bioavailability of calcium and iron from selected green leafy vegetables
- Effects of fiber, phytic acid, and oxalic acid in the diet on mineral bioavailability.
- Calcium Absorption from Kale
- Enhancing effect of dietary vinegar on the intestinal absorption of calcium in ovariectomized rats