Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
11/23/98
Contacts:
Elisabeth Schafer, Food Science and Human Nutrition, (515)
294-1359
Diane Nelson, Extension Communication System, (515)
294-3178
Calcium: What Your Mom Didn't Tell You
AMES, Iowa -- As children we drank our milk because our mommies told us to. Now, we may be tempted to also take calcium supplements -- if we can decide which one is best.
"Everyone knows that calcium helps prevent osteoporosis, but they may not know that research is starting to show that calcium also may reduce risk for high blood pressure, colon cancer and possibly high blood cholesterol," said Elisabeth Schafer, Iowa State University Extension nutritionist.
ISU Extension has created a booklet, Calcium and Vitamin D: What You Should Know, that covers daily allowances for calcium, ways to increase calcium, sources of calcium, bone health and osteoporosis, calcium supplements and how vitamin D increases the efficiency and amount of calcium absorbed by the body.
"Many women and teenage girls are getting only two-thirds of the calcium they need," said Schafer. "But adding calcium to your diet is as easy as sprinkling Parmesan cheese on vegetables, salads and soups or using milk instead of water in cooked cereals and cream soups. All of these can increase your consumption of calcium-rich foods."
For more information about calcium or to get your copy of Calcium and Vitamin D: What You Should Know, contact your county Extension office or Extension Distribution Center, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011. The cost of the booklet is fifty cents.
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