Page 14 - Just Better Care Possible Magazine - Issue 1

EATING YOUR WAY TO BETTER BONE HEALTH
It’s no secret that diet plays a key role in health and wellbeing. When people read the packaging of a food product to assess its nutritional value, they often look at the fat and carbohydrate levels. But how often do people check the calcium content?
Calcium is important for strengthening teeth and bones and should be included as part of a balanced diet.
Osteoporosis Australia states, “Less than half of all
Australian adults get their daily recommended intake of calcium.”
As people age, there is
a need to increase the level of calcium they consume to stay on top of changes in their body. It is recommended that women aged over 50 years and men aged over 70 years should consume around 1,300 milligrams of calcium per day. According to the Better Health Channel, “Both men and women lose bone mass as they grow older and need to make sure
they get enough calcium in their diet to offset these losses.”
When advised to increase their calcium intake, people
automatically think this means dairy. Milk, yoghurt and cheese are all excellent sources of calcium; the average glass of full fat milk (250 millilitres) has around 300 milligrams of calcium. But there are many other dietary sources
of calcium that can help people meet their daily calcium quota.
So where can you source calcium from?
• Milk, yoghurt and cheese
• Salmon and tinned sardines
• Soy products, for example tofu • Broccoli and collards
• Kale and spinach
• Almonds
Always consult a qualified health professional before making changes to your diet.
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Just Better Care Australia