Are Calcium & Vitamin D good for me?

Make No Bones About It, Calcium and Vitamin D are Your New Best Friends

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body and a whopping 99% of it is stored in your bones and teeth. Its main function is keeping your bones strong enough to support your skeletal structure, enabling you to chase around your kids/grandkids for years to come.If you aren’t getting enough calcium in your diet, your body will take from the next best source – your bones. Depleted calcium = weak bones, which can eventually become osteoporosis. Milk, yogurt, cheese and other dairy products (yes, ice cream does count!) are excellent sources of calcium, but are there other comparable options? With growing food sensitivities and dietary preferences, we dug deeper to find some alternatives.

No Dairy? No problem.

While dairy is a well-known source of Calcium, it is by no means the only source. Here are some of our favorite calcium-rich foods that are safe for those who are lactose intolerant.

• Dark Leafy Greens (Bok Choy, Kale, Collard and Turnip Greens)
• Calcium-Fortified OJ, Bread and Cereal
• Almonds
• White beans
• Tofu
• Figs

While Calcium sounds like the hero of this story, we can’t forget about vitamin D, the trusty sidekick. Without vitamin D, your body would be unable to absorb the calcium you take in, rendering it useless to your skeletal functions. Next time you’re at the grocery store, throw a few of this vitamin D rich foods in your cart.

• Salmon (especially wild-caught)
• Tuna
• Egg Yolks
• Milk
• Ricotta Cheese
• Shiitake Mushrooms

How about a little sunshine?

A few minutes outside each day, sans sunscreen will also give you a natural boost of the sunshine vitamin, but don’t overdo it! Slather on some SPF after your vitamin D boost if you plan on being exposed to the sun for a longer stretch of time.