Calcium is the mineral our bodies need in the highest quantities. We need it to grow and maintain our bones and teeth, but the use of calcium in our body doesn’t stop there. It also plays a vital role in muscle and nerve control, blood clotting and blood pressure control. Getting adequate amounts of calcium has even been shown to help with weight loss and it plays a role in preventing colon cancer.

The best way to get calcium is to eat calcium rich foods such as milk, yogurt, kale, spinach, almonds, tofu, and fortified cereals as part of your regular diet. Any healthy, balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables along with dairy products should provide you with all the calcium your body needs to stay strong and healthy. Review your own diet with a doctor or nutritionist, or even just keep a food journal for a few weeks to see if you are getting enough calcium. If not, add a few more glasses of milk, some cheese, yogurt and other calcium rich foods into your diet. Additionally calcium supplements that are available as pills or chewables can be used to make sure you get the calcium your body needs.

A lack in calcium over long periods of time can lead to osteoporosis, disease in which the bones become brittle and may break. The key to keeping your bones strong and avoiding this bone degenerating disease are to eat a diet rich in calcium throughout live and to strengthen your bones (and the rest of your body) with exercise.