The amount of calcium in a product is indicated as the percentage of the daily requirement based on 1000 milligrams (mg) of calcium per day. To calculate the milligrams of calcium, simply add a zero to the percentage of calcium that appears on the label. For example, if 1 cup of milk contains 30% of your calcium needs, then it contains 300 milligrams of calcium (see the food label below). Calcium requires an adequate amount of vitamin D to be absorbed by the body.
In the United States, many dietary sources of calcium, such as milk, are fortified with vitamin D. Get enough calcium to prevent bones from weakening throughout a person's life if that person has lactose intolerance or another reason, such as a tendency to kidney stones, to avoid calcium-rich food sources. Calcium deficiency also affects the heart and the circulatory system, as well as the secretion of essential hormones. There are many ways to supplement calcium, including a growing number of fortified foods.
The recommendations on calcium, as well as other nutrients, are contained in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) developed by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. The daily value (DV) that appears on the nutrition facts label indicates the amount of a nutrient (such as calcium) contained in a serving of the food.
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