Do I Get Enough Calcium?

Do I Need Calcium Supplements?

Your body needs calcium for several reasons. Calcium is needed for your muscles to contract and relax, your nerves to function, and for your blood to clot properly. You store 99 percent of your calcium in our bones. When you need more calcium for your blood, nerves and muscles, your body will remove the calcium from your bones. To keep your bones strong, you need to get enough calcium in your diet. Calcium loss from the bones will add up over time, and that means an increased risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures as you grow older.

Am I Getting Enough Calcium from My Diet?

The best source of calcium is from dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt. Calcium fortified foods like calcium-fortified orange juice and cereals are also good ways to get enough calcium in your diet. Other good sources include sardines, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, soy beans, figs, and calcium-fortified foods. We need at least three servings of dairy products per day, or four servings or more servings of the plant sources.

What Else Affects Calcium Need?

Smoking, caffeine consumption, drinking alcohol, heavy protein consumption, exposure to toxic metals, and eating processed junk foods will all increase our need for calcium.

Take the Calcium Screening Quiz to find out if you are getting enough calcium in your diet, or if you may need supplemental calcium (buy direct).

Remember, this is just a screening quiz. If you feel you have any health problems, or you have questions about taking calcium, please speak with a health care provider.

_Source:

"The NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases." National Resource Center.