What Shape are YOUR Bones in? Did you know…?

Good bone health is important at all ages When your diet doesn’t provide enough calcium for everyday life functions (such as blood clotting and regulating heart beat), your body takes what it needs from your bones. Over time, this drain can weaken bones to the point that they break easily. The more calcium your bones contain, the stronger and more dense they will be.

..…check it out! 9-18 year olds need 1,300 mg. of calcium a day! One glass of milk (8 oz.) has about 300 mg. of calcium. 9 out of 10 teen girls do not get enough calcium a day. 7 out of 10 boys do not get enough calcium a day. Birth to 20 is when you need to deposit calcium into your bones to ensure you have enough bone density for the rest of your life!

What takes calcium out of your bones? Cigarette smoking Caffeine Alcohol Consumption Phosphoric Acid found in dark colored soda Inadequate physical activity Female gender Body weight less than 130 lbs. Caucasian race Life long choice for low calcium intake

Easy ways to ADD calcium to your diet. On the go? Grab a carton of milk or some frozen yogurt. Start the day with hot cereal or cocoa made with milk instead of water. Top your baked potato with shredded cheese and low fat sour cream. For a snack, eat yogurt, add fruit or nuts for added nutrition. Last but not least – take a calcium supplement.

And Finally…. Of course you cannot live on calcium alone. Your body needs over 40 nutrients A DAY to function properly. No one food, or food group, supplies them all. That is why you need a variety of foods from the five food groups every day!