Are Your Children Getting Enough Calcium

By now, most of us know that it takes calcium to keep our bones and teeth strong. Most of us worry about calcium depletion as we age. But what about our children? Are they getting enough calcium as their bodies are constantly growing?

For our children, the age group that needs the greatest amount of calcium is our teens. Teens need 1,300 milligrams of calcium daily. This number drops the younger the child is. For children 1 to 3, the requirement is 500 milligrams daily and for children 4 to 8, the requirement is 800 milligrams daily. For adults, we aren’t far behind teens, especially if we are 51 or older, we should be consuming at least 1,200 milligrams a day.

So what does it mean to consume 500 milligrams to 1300 milligrams of calcium a day? Well, if a toddler, who needs the least amount, is drinking at least two glasses of milk, it is most likely they are hitting their target. Of course calcium is found in other consumables that include cheese, broccoli, yogurt and some cereals. For teens, their calcium intake is equivalent to four glasses of milk.

Getting our children or even ourselves as adults to consume the right amount of calcium can sometimes be a chore. Adding a daily supplement to our diet can help us balance out our calcium requirements without having to count portions with every meal. Of course eating right and eating in a balanced way is the most ideal, but if your diet isn’t balanced, take a step back and ask whether making the extra effort to watch your calcium is worth the effort. We think so as research has shown evidence that not only does calcium strengthen our bones and teeth but it may even reduce the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels – or, as new research is showing, it reduces our chances of having colon cancer. When our calcium level is low, our body pulls calcium from our bones – which are the stockholders of about 99 percent of the calcium in our body. If our bones are constantly being drawn upon to balance our needed calcium supply, what results are weaker bones and even weaker teeth. For children, who enjoy sugary snacks and soda pop, this can mean more cavities and higher priced dental bills. And if the depletion is even more unbalanced, it could be as serious as bone fractures or breaks.

So is making the extra effort to make sure your children are getting enough calcium worth a parent’s time? You had better believe it. It’s better to make the effort now than to pay the price later.

R. Fredriksen is the Vice President of Nutrition Dome, a leading provider of