The Basics
Your body needs calcium to build strong bones.
- Girls ages 9 to 18 need at least 1,300 mg of calcium every day.
- Women ages 19 to 50 need at least 1,000 mg of calcium every day.
- Women over age 50 need at least 1,200 mg every day.
Calcium can help prevent osteoporosis (weak bones).
One out of every two (1 in 2) women and one in four (1 in 4) men over the age of 50 will break a bone in their lifetime because of osteoporosis. Calcium helps to keep your bones strong and less likely to break.