Milk based

Milk: provides a rich and absorbable source of calcium with 1 cup containing approximately 300mg of calcium.²

Cheese: 60g portions of feta, cheddar and brie provide approximately 270mg of calcium, 480mg of calcium and 240mg of calcium respectively.4

Yoghurt: A 200g tub of yoghurt provides roughly 300mg of calcium.²

Marine based

Sardines and salmon (with soft edible bones) should be included in a healthy diet for good bones. ½ cup of canned salmon delivers approximately 400mg of calcium.²

Bean & legume based

Tofu: ½ cup of tofu provides around 430mg of calcium.³

Beans: ½ cup of white beans contains 81mg of calcium and ½ cup of red kidney beans contains 25mg of calcium.³ Beans also contain phytic acid, a component that can reduce how much of the calcium is absorbed into the body. For this reason, you may need to consume more of this food to meet your calcium requirements.³

Vegetable based

Cooked bok choy: ½ cup serve contains approx. 79mg of calcium.³

Cooked broccoli: 1 cup delivers approx. 45mg of calcium, 50-60% of which should be absorbed.²

Cooked kale: ½ cup supplies 47mg of calcium.³

Raw watercress: 120g (a medium bunch) contains about 188mg of calcium.4

Infancy

For infants, the most important factor in the development of a potential vitamin D insufficiency is their mother's vitamin D status. Generally, breast milk is low in vitamin D.

Infants who are breast-fed and dark-skinned may require vitamin D supplementation to maintain adequate vitamin D nutrition.

Children & Adolescents

Calcium is essential in youth and throughout life to maximise and strengthen bones. It increases bone mineral density and assists normal healthy bone development in teenagers.

Bone mass increases about seven-fold from birth to puberty, and half of a person's bone mass is accumulated during adolescence.

Adults

Sufficient dietary calcium is needed to maintain bone mass.

Up until around the age of 30, the body creates bone faster than it is broken down. After age 30, this balance changes and more bone is lost than is gained.

Elderly

During menopause there is a decline in calcium absorption and increase in calcium loss. Aging affects Vitamin D synthesis in the skin.

Adequate intake of dietary calcium is critical in reducing the rate of bone loss associated with aging and may assist in the prevention of osteoporosis.