Calcium Sources

What is the food pyramid guide?

The food pyramid is a guide to help you make daily food and physical activity choices to improve your overall health including your bone health. The amount of food that you need from each food group and your physical activity recommendations depend on your age and other considerations.  For more information about the recommendatins that are right for you visit the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website.

How can I use the food pyramid guide to get enough calcium?

(NYSOPEP) The New York State Osteoporosis Prevention & Education Program has developed, Calcium Choices Throughout The Food Pyramid, to help you know the approximate calcium content of selected foods throughout the food pyramid. It is important to know that there are many other calcium-rich foods available in each food group; this is only a partial listing. The actual calcium content of a food may vary depending upon the brand. It is always important to read the nutrition facts on each food label when selecting a product.

To use Calcium Choices Throughout The Food Pyramid to help you get enough calcium from the food you eat, follow these easy steps:

Step 1: Know your daily recommended intake (daily recommended intake) for calcium. Your needs vary according to your age.

*mg= milligrams
(Dietary Reference Intakes, National Academy of Science, 1997)

Step 2: Know the estimated daily calcium in your current diet. Most individuals can easily get at least half of the calcium they need from food. If your typical calcium intake is too low, first try to increase the calcium in your diet. There are many calcium-rich foods to help you meet your calcium needs through diet alone

Step 3: Use Calcium Choices Throughout The Food Pyramid to help you select foods that you can add to your diet to reach your DRI .

For more information about the calcium content of selected foods, click on the USDA National Nutrient Database listed according to calcium content or listed alphabetically.