Calcium moves front and center.

• Position: Dietary Guidelines

More emphasis needs to be placed on consuming calcium in light of the new dietary reference intake guidelines, asserts Connie Weaver, professor of foods and nutrition at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. Fourteen years ago, when the dietary reference intake guidelines were updated, calcium, which is best known for making strong bones, was classified in the adequate intake category because the research community did not know enough about its properties, Weaver contends. She was part of the team in 1997 that established the calcium dietary reference intake guidelines, which were created with oversight by the Institute of Medicine and the Food and Nutrition Board.

"Fast forward 14 years, and we probably have more information about calcium than any nutrient," points out Weaver, who also is a member of the Institute of Medicine. "Calcium is very critical for every body function--without it, your muscles won't contract and your nerves won't send messages. You either provide calcium through your diet or your body will strip it from your bone tissue. If your body robs the bones, they will weaken end break."

It is recommended that the average young adult consume 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day, and those over the age of 50 should consume 1,200 milligrams a day. Weaver explains that this is the equivalent of eating a rich calcium source, such as a dairy product, at each meal. In addition to products with milk, a number of other foods, such as orange juice, are fortified with the mineral, and calcium supplements are available.

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