Healthy Bones

No matter what your age, bone health is important. Strong bones help prevent osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become fragile and break easily. Often considered an "elderly" concern, osteoporosis prevention begins at an early age and continues throughout your lifetime. Bone mass develops rapidly between the ages of 10 and 20 and peaks at age 30. Building and maintaining strong bones depends on calcium, vitamin D, and physical activity.

Calcium

Calcium is an important nutrient for your body and for your health. Calcium helps your heart, muscles, and nerves function. It is also important for bone health. Ninety-nine percent of your body's calcium is stored in your bones. Children and teenagers need adequate calcium in their diets so they can maximize the calcium storage in their bones. In later years, adequate dietary calcium helps minimize calcium loss from the bones.

Studies show that over half of Americans do not get the recommended calcium from their diets. The best sources of calcium are dairy products. Calcium should be provided in meals and snacks throughout the day. Try the Calcium Checklist to estimate how much calcium you get in a day. Follow the Food Guide Pyramid to obtain all the key nutrients you need.

Calcium Recommendations
Children 1 to 3 years	500 mg
Children 4 to 8 years	800 mg
Youth 9 to 18 years	1300 mg
Adult 19 to 50 years	1000 mg
Adult 51 + years	1200 mg

Vitamin D

Your body uses vitamin D to help transport calcium to your bones. Foods such as milk and eggs contain vitamin D. Your body also makes its own vitamin D when you are exposed to sunlight. Three times a week for about 10 to 15 minutes is enough sunlight for younger people. However, because many older people do not get outdoors very often and their skin is much less efficient at making vitamin D, they may need to use supplements to obtain their needed 400 to 600 IU of vitamin D per day. Younger adults usually need around 200 IU per day. One cup of fortified cow's or soy milk provides 100 IU.

Physical Activity

Weight-bearing exercise helps keep bones strong and prevents calcium loss. Calcium loss can take place at any age, even during childhood. For example, astronauts (weightlessness in space) and sedentary people are at risk for losing calcium from their bones. Weight-bearing exercise includes walking, jogging, weight lifting, dancing, and soccer. Try a daily activity with your family, neighbors, or friends‹walking at the mall, joining a fitness club, or doing a hobby. Aim for at least 30 minutes of activity on most days of the week. You can add up the minutes throughout the day. It does not need to be all at one time.

Lactose Intolerance

It has been estimated that between 30 and 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant. People who are lactose-intolerant cannot digest lactose, a natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. Symptoms begin anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours after eating or drinking foods containing lactose. Symptoms can vary depending on the person, but include gas, nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting.

If you have trouble digesting dairy products, first try smaller amounts in meals and snacks spread throughout the day. Other solutions include: adding lactase enzyme drops to milk; choosing hard cheeses (like cheddar), and yogurt with active cultures, that are low in lactose; purchasing reduced-lactose dairy products; or taking lactase enzyme tablets before you eat or drink dairy products.

For individuals who either cannot tolerate any lactose or do not like dairy products, following are some calcium-rich alternatives. Calcium supplements may be another option.

Calcium and Fat

Although dairy products are high in calcium, they can also be high in fat. Read the Nutrition Facts label to find lower-fat options. The label lists the grams (g) of fat in the serving and the "%" contribution to the recommended fat level for the day. Some lower-fat options include: nonfat or 1% milk; reduced-fat cheese; and many of the calcium-rich alternatives to dairy, such as dry beans.

 

Calcium and Fat
Low-fat choices		Medium-fat choices		High-fat choices
300 mg calcium
1 cup skim milk or non fat yogurt	0g	1 cup whole milk, yogurt, fortified soy milk	8g	12 oz. Milk shake	12g
1 cup 2% milk, low-fat yogurt	5g	1 cup custard	9g	1 cup eggnog	19g
1 cup calcium fortified orange juice	0g	4 oz canned salmon, solids	7g	1 piece lasagna	15g
				4 oz sardines, solids	13g
200 mg calcium
1 oz fat-free cheese	0g	1 oz. Cheddar/American cheese	9g	1 cup ice cream (10% fat)	14g
1 oz low fat cheese	6g	1 cup cream soup/chowder	9g	1 cup ice cream (16% fat)	24g
100 mg calcium
1 cup 1% cottage cheese	2g	1/2 cup macaroni and cheese	10g	1/8 quiche pie	48g
1 cup sherbet (2%)	4g	1 cup creamed (4%) cottage cheese	10g	1 cheeseburger, 4 oz	31g
1/2 cup ice milk (4%)	6g	1/8 15" pizza	9g	1 oz almonds	15g
1/2 cup cooked greens	0g	1/4 cup Alfredo sauce	10g	1 cup tempeh	13g
One 2 1/2" muffin	6g	One 7" waffle	11g
1 cup cooked dried beans/peas	1g	Fats such as cream cheese, sour cream, whipping cream, coffee cream, artificial creamer, and whipped topping contain little or no calcium. Substitute fat free yogurt or low-fat cottage cheese blended with 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar for sour cream or cream cheese.
1 taco shell	3g
1/2 cup tofu	6g
One 4" pancake	4g

Calcium Supplements

Dietary sources of calcium are best because they contain other nutrients, too. If you are unable to get enough calcium from your diet, then calcium supplements are an alternative. They are not designed to replace nutrition, only supplement. Calcium supplements are available in tablets, powders, liquids, and chewable chocolate. Read the label for the amount of calcium. Avoid taking a supplement that contains more than 500 mg. It may keep your body from using the other nutrients in the meal or snack. High doses of calcium at one time can cause gastric upset. Calcium citrate is a supplement that dissolves easily in the stomach and is absorbed efficiently. Bone-meal supplements are made from finely ground animal bones. Bone-meal supplements are not recommended because they may contain toxic metals such as lead.

A word of caution: supplements are not regulated. As a result, many of the products are not standardized-meaning that they do not have the same amount or same product. Check for the Consumer Lab stamp of approval, a CL and a beaker, on the label. CL conducts independent product tests to ensure purity and consistency.

Calcium Rich Alternatives

• Dry Beans, such as black-eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans
• Turnip greens, collard greens, broccoli, kale
• Sardines
• Tofu
• Fortified orange juice
• Broth made with meat bones and a few tablespoons of vinegar

See PDF for Calcium Checklists.

Reference

Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), Institute of Medicine (IOM). Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride (1999).

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• Elena Serrano
• Anna Sablik

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• Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise