Calcium is the most prevalent mineral in the human body. It plays an important role in maintaining good health. For example:
In addition, preliminary research suggests that calcium and vitamin D supplementation may help to optimize blood glucose metabolism.
According to the National Academy of Sciences, the majority of Americans do not meet their calcium requirements. The recommended intakes for calcium are:
Age | Adequate Intake (mg/day) |
---|---|
0-6 months | 210 |
6 months-1 year | 270 |
1-3 years | 500 |
4-8 years | 800 |
9-18 years | 1,300 |
19-50 years | 1,000 |
51+ years | 1,200 |
Pregnancy and Lactation
14-18 years | 1,300 |
Pregnancy and Lactation
19-50 years | 1,000 |
Food Sources of Calcium
Dairy foods—milk, yogurt, and some cheeses—are the best dietary sources of calcium. These foods are also rich in vitamin D , which helps the body absorb calcium.
Food | Portion size |
Amount of calcium
(mg) |
---|---|---|
Yogurt | 1 cup | 300-400 |
Milk | 1 cup | 300-400 |
Macaroni and cheese, homemade | 1 cup | 362 |
Parmesan cheese | 1 tablespoon | 336 |
Eggnog, nonalcoholic | 1 cup | 330 |
Chocolate milk | 1 cup | 300 |
Ricotta cheese | ½ cup | 300 |
Powdered milk | ¼ cup | 290 |
Cheddar cheese | 1 ounce | 250 |
Swiss cheese | 1 ounce | 250 |
Provolone cheese | 1 ounce | 215 |
Cheese pizza | 1/6 of a frozen pizza | 210 |
Mozzarella cheese | 1 ounce | 175 |
American cheese | 1 ounce | 160 |
Cottage cheese | 1 cup | 120 |
Frozen yogurt, soft serve | ½ cup | 100 |
Ice cream | ½ cup | 80 |
Absorption of calcium from some other dietary sources is not as great as that from dairy foods. Specifically, dark green vegetables contain oxalates, and grains contain phytates, which can bind with calcium and decrease their absorption. However, these foods still provide a good way to add calcium to your diet.
Read the Nutrition Facts label on tofu and fortified products to determine specific calcium levels of these foods.
Food | Portion size |
Amount of calcium
(mg) |
---|---|---|
Carnation breakfast bars | 1.3 ounce bar | 500 |
Tofu, regular, processed with calcium | ½ cup | 435 |
Calcium-fortified soy milk | 1 cup | 250-300 |
Salmon, canned with edible bones | 3 ounces | 212 |
Calcium-fortified orange juice | ¾ cup | 200 |
Total raisin bran cereal | 1 cup | 200 |
Blackstrap molasses | 1 tablespoon | 172 |
Pudding, from cook & serve mix | ½ cup | 150 |
Dried figs | 5 figs | 135 |
Tofu, regular, processed without calcium | ½ cup | 130 |
Anchovies with edible bones | 3 ounces | 125 |
Turnip greens, boiled | ½ cup | 100 |
Milk chocolate bar | 1.5 ounces | 85 |
Okra, boiled | ½ cup | 77 |
Tempeh | ½ cup | 77 |
Kale, boiled | ½ cup | 70 |
Mustard greens, boiled | ½ cup | 65 |
Orange | 1 medium | 50 |
Pinto beans | ½ cup | 45 |
Tips for Increasing Your Calcium Intake
Dealing with Lactose Intolerance
Some people have difficulty digesting lactose , which is the main sugar in milk and some dairy products. This occurs when the body does not produce enough of the enzyme lactase to properly digest lactose. People with this condition, called lactose intolerance, may experience nausea, cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, gas, and diarrhea . This can occur anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours after eating milk or milk products.
If you have lactose intolerance, take the following steps to be sure you meet your calcium needs:
Taking Supplements
If you are unable to meet your calcium needs through dietary sources, ask your doctor if you should take a calcium supplement. Some points to remember when choosing and using a calcium supplement include:
RESOURCES:
American Dietetic Association
http://www.eatright.org/
Office of Dietary Supplements
http://ods.od.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Dietitians of Canada
http://www.dietitians.ca/
Healthy Canadians
http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/
References:
Bowes and Church's Food Values of Portions Commonly Used. 17th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1998.
Duyff RL. The American Dietetic Association's Complete Food & Nutrition Guide. Minneapolis, MN: Chronimed Publishing; 1998.
Duyff RL. The American Dietetic Association's Complete Food & Nutrition Guide. 3rd ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; 2006.
Garrison RH, Somer E. The Nutrition Desk Reference. New Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing; 1995.
Heaney RP. Calcium intake and disease prevention. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol. 2006;50:685-693.
Hofmeyr G, Duley L, Atallah A. Dietary calcium supplementation for prevention of pre-eclampsia and related problems: a systematic review and commentary. BJOG. 2007 Jun 12. [Epub ahead of print]
Pittas AG, Lau J, Hu FB, Dawson-Hughes B. The role of vitamin D and calcium in type 2 diabetes. A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92:2017-2029. Epub 2007 Mar 27.
Straub DA. Calcium supplementation in clinical practice: a review of forms, doses, and indications [review]. Nutr Clin Pract. 2007;22:286-296.
7/6/2006 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Villar J, Abdel-Aleem H, Merialdi M, et al. World Health Organization randomized trial of calcium supplementation among low calcium intake pregnant women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006;194:639-649.
7/6/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Kumar A, Devi SG, Batra S, Singh C, Shukla DK. Calcium supplementation for the prevention of pre-eclampsia. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2009;104:32-36.
Last reviewed April 2009 by Maria Adams, MS, MPH, RD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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