Calcium and vitamin D for health
Calcium and vitamin D are important to your child’s health. Her body needs calcium for many reasons. Calcium:
- Helps form bones and teeth.
- Keeps bones and teeth strong to prevent breaks and decay.
- Is important for muscle contraction, blood clotting, and sending nerve impulses.
Without vitamin D, your child’s body can’t absorb and use calcium to make and keep strong bones. A chronically low level of vitamin D is also linked to the development of:
- Diabetes.
- Heart disease.
- Cancer.
- Depression.
- A low-functioning immune system.
How much calcium and vitamin D does my child need every day?
The amount of calcium and vitamin D your child needs depends on her age. Children between the ages of:
- 4 to 8 should get 800 mg/day of calcium and 400 IU/day of vitamin D.
- 9 to 18 should get 1,300 mg/day of calcium and 400 IU/day of vitamin D.
To see if you and your child are getting enough calcium, use this calcium calculator from the International Osteoporosis Foundation.
How can I make sure my child gets the calcium and vitamin D she needs?
You can:
- Make sure she eats 3 to 4 servings of high-calcium foods every day: Low-fat or fat-free dairy products are best. If you use milk substitutes like soy or almond milk, choose unsweetened varieties that are fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Orange juice with added calcium is available, but like all juice it contains a lot of sugar and should be limited.
- Offer other foods that contain calcium: fortified cereals, tofu made with calcium sulfate (check the ingredients), and leafy greens like kale.
- Make soups, smoothies, puddings, parfaits, and dips with low-fat or fat-free dairy products.
- Serve fish containing vitamin D regularly.
- Choose dairy products, juices, and cereals that are fortified with vitamin D.
Check out:
Continue to Talking about sex with your child
|
