People who opt for plant-based sources of protein over animal sources often turn to tofu. Made up of soybean, water, and calcium sulfate, tofu can help strengthen muscles, support cardiovascular health, and potentially fight against inflammation and cancer. It might not eclipse ground beef, chicken, or fish in terms of protein content, but tofu certainly outshines that glass of low-fat milk when it comes to both protein and calcium. An 8-ounce glass of 1% low-fat milk (246 grams) contains 8.32 grams of protein (via USDA). If we compare that to 1 cup of regular tofu (248 grams), you get 20 grams of protein (via USDA).
Of course, the main focus here is calcium, so let’s take a closer look at those numbers. As we said, in 1 cup of 1% low-fat milk, you get 310 milligrams of calcium, compared to 1 cup of regular tofu, where you’ll find an impressive 868 milligrams. Better yet, you get even more calcium with 1 cup of firm tofu, which contains a staggering 1,722 milligrams (via USDA). When it comes to regular versus firm tofu, the difference is how much water it holds. Other types of tofu include silken, extra-firm, and super-firm.