Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body. It is very important for:
If you do not get enough calcium in your diet you may be at risk for losing calcium from your bones, making them thinner and weaker. This condition is called osteoporosis.
How much calcium you need depends on your age and whether you are male or female.
The recommendations are:
GROUP MG CALCIUM/DAY Children 800 Teenagers and young adults up to 24 years 1200-1500 Premenopausal women 25 to 50 years 1000 Women 25 to 50 years 1000 Pregnant and breast-feeding women 1200 - 1500 Women over 50 years (postmenopausal) Taking estrogen 1000 Not taking estrogen 1500 Women over 65 years 1500 Men 25 to 65 years 1000 Men over 65 years 1500
Dairy products are one of the best sources of calcium. Calcium may also be found in a variety of other foods, as listed in the following table.
FOOD SERVING SIZE MG CALCIUM (APPROXIMATE) Milk, whole, 2%, 1%, or skim 8 oz 300 Yogurt 8 oz 300 Cheddar cheese 1 oz 200 Ice cream 1/2 cup 100 Frozen yogurt 1/2 cup 100 Cottage cheese 1/2 cup 90 Tofu, firm 4 oz 250 Soy milk, unfortified 8 oz 80 Greens (collard, kale, mustard) 1/2 cup 80-150 Red beans, chickpeas 3/4 cup 60 Sardines (with bones) 3 oz 350 Salmon, canned (with bones) 3 oz 180 Molasses, blackstrap 1 tablespoon 125 Corn tortillas 2 90 Seaweed, dry 1/2 cup 100
Many brands of orange juice, cereal, and bread are fortified with extra calcium. Check the labels.
If you can get enough calcium in your diet, you do not need to take calcium supplements. Dairy products are the easiest source of calcium. It is hard to get enough calcium if these products are not a part of your diet.
Some people cannot digest most dairy products because their bodies lack the enzyme needed to break down milk sugar (lactose). They must follow a lactose-free diet. There are nonprescription products to help such people digest dairy products. You can ask your health care provider, nutritionist, or pharmacist about these products.
If you do need calcium supplements, many types are available. The calcium is usually combined with carbonate, citrate, lactate, gluconate, or phosphate. The body absorbs all of these forms of calcium equally well. However, avoid bone meal, dolomite, and oyster shell calcium because they may contain lead or other toxic metals. Check labels to see how much "essential calcium" is in each pill.
The following can make it harder for your body to absorb calcium:
Vitamin D increases calcium absorption.