Expert Advice: How to Up Your Calcium Intake

Did you know? Calcium is important well beyond childhood—especially for women.

Used by almost every cell in the body, the mineral is vital for healthy bones and teeth— as well as the heart and nerves—yet research shows that 90 percent of New Zealand women do not meet their recommended daily calcium intake[1].

“Without proper calcium and minerals in our diet, our body absorbs the calcium it needs from our bones,” says naturopath, nutritionist and Lifestream ambassador Janella Purcell. “This can result in low bone density and weakness, especially in later life.”


Photo courtesy of Communeco

“Although we imagine our bones are permanent, they are actually being constantly renewed throughout our life and replaced with new bone tissue—in fact, our entire skeleton is renewed approximately every seven years!”

“This means sufficient calcium is required throughout our lives, but the amount we need varies considerably at different stages of our lives. Most women require around 1000mg per day, however this should increase to around 1300mg if she’s peri and post-menopausal, pregnant or breastfeeding.”

Read more here.