Calcium for Life

Calcium: The essential mineral for every stage of life.

 
 
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It's working for you even before you're born. It stays with you the rest of your life, stored in your bones to help support your body through all the stages of your life. Consequently, you're never too old or too young to pay attention to your calcium needs.  
 
Throughout life, a healthy diet that includes enough calcium, and vitamin D to help optimize its absorption, boosted by weight-bearing physical activity every day, may help reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life.
 
 
 
 
 

Calcium for Life

Track how much calcium you body needs throughout your life.

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Infant/Toddler+

Growth spurts. This is prime time for bone growth so it's crucial that young children get enough calcium from their diet. Also, a stimulating environment is extremely important for a child's development. Children should be provided opportunities for holding, touching, face-to-face contact and minimally structured play with toys that are safe. The American Heart Association recommends that toddlers should get at least 30 minutes of structured physical activity daily to help build strong bodies.

+ Caltrate® is not formulated for use in children. Next

Youth+

Time to invest. Build a strong bone bank now because your body will need it later. Maximizing bone mass early in life helps reduce bone loss and may reduce the risk of osteoporosis in later years, yet 90% of teenage girls between the ages of
12-19 do not get enough calcium from diet alone.** Boys and girls, ages 9 to 18, need 1300 mg daily so calcium-rich food and at least an hour of physical activity are paramount.

+Caltrate is not formulated for use in children.
**Source: What We Eat in America, NHANES 2005-2006; NHANES III. Chart: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Next

Childbearing

Building blocks. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, your body absorbs more calcium from food so your baby can build healthy teeth and bones. If you don't get enough calcium in your diet while pregnant to meet your baby's needs, he/she will take calcium from your bones. Under your doctor's supervision, supplements like Caltrate® can be a great way to get adequate calcium and vitamin D. Next

Adult

Incredible shrinking bones. As early as your 30s, you may begin to slowly lose bone mass. It's time to concentrate on getting adequate calcium in your diet, as well as weight-bearing exercise. And consider supplementation. Adults need 1000 to 1200 mg of calcium per day, depending on age, and should get at least 30 minutes/day of physical activity. Next

Perimenopausal

Wanted: Calcium. Eighty percent of women don't get enough calcium from food.** If you don't get enough calcium in your diet, your body can steal it from your bones.‡ Calcium intake, which might include supplementation, and weight-bearing exercises like walking, running and aerobics are essential at this age.

**Source: What We Eat in America, NHANES 2005-2006; NHANES III Chart: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Next

Postmenopausal

Goodbye estrogen. Hello calcium supplements. During this life stage, estrogen levels plunge to one-third their normal level, which can have a significant impact on bone mass; more bone is usually lost than rebuilt so adequate calcium intake is crucial. Calcium supplements and physical activity are extremely helpful during this time. Plus vitamin D intake should be increased to 800 international units (IU) per day to help optimize calcium absorption.

Source: Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Calculate your needs