Vitamin Q & A

by: News Canada

Q: My teenage daughter does not like milk and I'm afraid she isn't getting enough calcium. What can she do to ensure that she is getting enough?

A: Building strong bone mass through adequate calcium intake is imperative for women during their teenage years. It's during this time that bones are building density and growing in length. Calcium with vitamin D can lower the risk of developing osteoporosis. If your daughter doesn't like to drink milk, there are other alternatives. Suggest foods made from low-fat dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt. Other foods rich in calcium are fortified orange juice, rice and soymilk, salmon with bones, tofu, lentils, nuts, beans and some greens such as kale, bok choy and broccoli. It's recommended that teens get 1,300 mg of calcium every day with 400 IU of vitamin D to aid calcium absorption. Teens should consider taking a daily calcium supplement to maintain adequate calcium intake. For convenience, Caltrate PlusŪ Chewables are now available.

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