Bones and Calcium

A lot of us assume that our bones stop growing when we become adults. But that's not correct. Bone tissues continue dissolving and reforming and one way to maintain strong bones is to eat foods rich in calcium.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body but our bodies cannot manufacture it. We have to get all the calcium we need from food.

Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese are storehouses of calcium. Milk and milk products also contain vitamin D and other components that help our body absorb calcium.

Here's a guide to our calcium needs as established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences.

Age or Category                 Recommended Dietary Allowance
                                                      (mg)
Children (1-10 yrs)                           800
Teenagers (11-18 yrs)                     1,200
Adults (18+ yrs)                               800
Pregnant and nursing women           1,200
Pregnant and nursing teenagers       1,600

Next week we shall enumerate food sources of calcium for you to determine a diet that meets your calcium needs.

Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com