:: Milk - Important for All Ages ::

Milk - Important for All Ages

From a young age we’ve all been taught about how important
milk is for us. We are also encouraged to drink milk regardless
of our age.

Milk is a rich source of calcium, fat, vitamins and minerals and it
is important to note that all human beings have different
nutritional requirements, and our calcium intake also differ
from one another. As an example, a child between the ages
of 1 – 3 years needs 500mg of calcium a day, while a child
between 4 – 6 years needs 600 mg a day.

For children especially, calcium is of paramount importance as it helps with the healthy growth of teeth and bones. Whereas in the adolescent years, calcium is important for the growth spurt experienced commonly during the physical transition form child to adulthood. It is because they are also more active and their activities require that strong bones.

Calcium also helps with the prevention of Osteoporosis in later years. On a daily basis, or as often as we can we need to ensure that we get as much calcium as we can, because aside from bodily processes like digestion and the secretion of urine and waste, our bones are also renewed with new bone.

Food labelling

I’m sure like with many others, when buying food we don’t stop to really look at the labels. However food labels are very important as they help us to know the ingredients and nutritional contents of foods along with how to store them. Some information would include the calcium content per serving of a particular food.

The Needs of an Expectant Mother

Without a doubt expectant mothers top the list for those who need calcium the most. According to Dr Ariza Mohamed in her book titled, ‘New Mother’s Questions and Answers,’ “calcium is needed in the development of vital organs for the foetus.” “If the developing foetus is unable to get the calcium it needs from the mother’s food intake and supplements, calcium will be absorbed from the mother’s bones.” It is for this reason that there are a few health risks for the mother who lose too much during pregnancy:-

a. Joint pains
b. Brittle bones
c. Cramped legs

Calcium requirements as you age

Even as adults it is important to drink milk regularly for your calcium intake, because as you age your bones lose their bone mass, and uncontrolled this could lead to your bones becoming weak and brittle. This is why a healthy consumption of milk from young is essential for a good head start, with the hopes of avoiding problems with bones later on in life.

Other sources of calcium

There are other sources of calcium apart from milk and dairy products, such as:-

a. Nuts : the best are Almonds
b. Vegetables : Green leafy vegetables like Spinach and Broccoli (apart from being rich in calcium, they also have a very low calorie count)
c. Fruits : oranges & raisins
d. Fish : sardines and salmon

If you are unsure or have questions about your required daily intake of calcium based on the different types of food, you could seek the advice of your doctor or dietician.

Reference:-

1. ‘Strong Women, Strong Bones : Everything you need to know to prevent, treat and beat Osteoporosis,’ Miriam E. Nelson, Sarah Wernick (2006)
2. Recommended Nutrient Intakes, Ministry of Health, Malaysia (2005)
3. ‘New Mother’s Questions and Answers,’ Dr Ariza Mohamed (2005)

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