The best way to get more calcium is from your diet.
You probably already know that dairy products -- such as milk, cheese, and yogurt -- provide calcium. Other foods that are high in calcium include:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Okra
- Collards
- Soybeans
- White beans
- Some fish, like sardines, salmon, perch, and rainbow trou
- tFoods that are calcium-fortified, such as some orange juice, oatmeal, and breakfast cereal
Foods that provide vitamin D include:
- Fatty fish, like tuna, mackerel, and salmon
- Foods fortified with vitamin D, like some dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, and cereals
- Beef liver
- Cheese
- Egg yolks
- To get vitamin D from food, fish is a good option. Three ounces of cooked salmon has more than 450 international units (IU).
How Much Do You Need?
Here's how much calcium and vitamin D you need every day, according to the Institute of Medicine.
Calcium
- Children 1-3 years old: 700 milligrams (mg)
- Children 4-8 years old: 1,000 mg
- Children 9-18 years old: 1,300 mg
- Adults 19-50: 1,000 mg
- Women 51 to 70: 1,200 mg
- Men 51 to 70: 1,000 mg
- Women and men 71 and over: 1,200 mg