Many
foods contain high amounts of calcium. It is important that you also get enough
vitamin D along with calcium to help your body absorb the
calcium.
Calcium is in foods such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. Vegetables like broccoli, kale, and Chinese cabbage have calcium. You can get calcium if you eat the soft edible bones in canned sardines and canned salmon. Foods with added (fortified) calcium include some cereals, juices, soy drinks, and tofu. The food label will show how much calcium was added.
Vitamin D is in foods such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel. These are some of the best foods to eat when trying to get more vitamin D. Other foods with vitamin D, but in small amounts, include cheese, egg yolks, and beef liver. You can also get vitamin D from fortified foods such as milk and some cereals, orange juices, yogurts, margarines, and soy drinks.
For example, a good source of calcium is fat-free milk fortified with vitamin
D. Four cups a day provide about 1,200 mg of calcium. Other good sources of
calcium include shrimp, blackstrap molasses, calcium-fortified tofu, and
almonds.
Everyone who has been diagnosed
with osteoporosis should try to
eat a diet rich in these nutrients. People who do not get enough calcium from their diet may need to take a
calcium supplement with vitamin D.
Types of calcium
supplements include:
- Calcium carbonate, which is 40% elemental
calcium.
- Calcium citrate, which is 21% elemental calcium. While
lower in elemental calcium than calcium carbonate, calcium citrate is easier to
digest and does not cause constipation as much as other types of calcium
supplements.
- Calcium gluconate and calcium lactate, which contain
a low amount of elemental calcium.
You can get calcium supplements at most grocery stores and pharmacies. They come in tablets, chewables, and capsules. Not all supplements contain the same amount of calcium or contain vitamin D, so read the label to see which one is best for you.
Consider how much calcium and vitamin D you normally get in your diet. Then each day take the number of tablets that satisfies your
daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D based on your age and health condition. Be careful not to take more than you need.
Test Your Knowledge
I am 35 years old and drink 2 cups of milk a day.
That's enough calcium to reduce my risk of bone loss.
- True
This answer is incorrect.Drinking milk fortified with vitamin D can be a
great way to get calcium. But you would have to drink 3 to 4 cups a day to
get the recommended 1,000 mg of calcium a day. You may need to add additional foods
such as a cup of yogurt or some salmon to
get the recommended daily amount for your age.
- False
This answer is correct.Drinking milk fortified with vitamin D can be a
great way to get calcium. But you would have to drink 3 to 4 cups a day to
get the recommended 1,000 mg of calcium a day. You may need to add additional foods
such as a cup of yogurt or some salmon to
get the recommended daily amount for your age.
I am a woman older than 65, and I do not eat dairy
products. I can get enough calcium by taking a good calcium supplement along
with getting enough vitamin D to help my body absorb the
calcium.
- True
This answer is correct.Taking 1,200 mg of calcium supplements combined with 600 IU of vitamin D a day can provide all the daily calcium
you need. You may also want to consider supplementing your daily diet with
other foods rich in calcium so your body can absorb small amounts of calcium
throughout each day.
- False
This answer is incorrect.Taking 1,200 mg of calcium supplements combined with 600 IU of vitamin D a day can provide all the daily calcium
you need. You may also want to consider supplementing your daily diet with
other foods rich in calcium so your body can absorb small amounts of calcium
throughout each day.
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