I recently become the mom to a teenager. I am not sure how that happened since it seems like just yesterday she started kindergarten. That saying that the days are long but the years are short is so true. I have to admit that I had not thought much about calcium and teen girls. I thought that calcium was more of a concern for older women. I was surprised when I learned these 6 facts about teenagers and calcium. Do you now your teenager’s calcium needs?
- According to a 2010 study published in The Journal of Nutrition, 86% of teen girls do not get enough calcium in their daily diets.
- Calcium plays an important role in strengthening bones and teeth, as well as helping muscles (including the heart) and nerves function properly. With 95% of peak bone mass present by age 20, experts in bone health agree that getting the proper amount of daily calcium during these adolescent years is crucial.
- In a recent federal survey, only 15 percent of high school students drink milk; 9% of them were teen girls.
- The recommended amount of calcium for a girl 9-18 years old is 1300 milligrams (mg). To compare, it is 1000 mg for women 19-50 years of age.
- There are many calcium boosters that you can include in your teen’s diet to help her reach the recommended daily amount of calcium. A cup of low-fat chocolate milk at breakfast will add about 300 mg of calcium daily. Low-fat string cheese is also a crowd favorite and an easy way to add another 150 mg of calcium per stick. A fruit smoothie made with one cup of low-fat yogurt and fresh fruit can add almost 375 mg. We love this fun mango strawberry smoothie recipe.
- Many foods can interfere with absorption of the calcium. Snacks such as chips, pretzels, and crackers are loaded with sodium, which can deplete calcium stored in the body when levels are too high. White bread, popcorn, and other processed foods can be high in oxalates, which can impact calcium negatively. Some healthier foods are the culprits of depleting calcium, too. Foods high in phosphorus, such as peanut butter, corn, sunflower seeds, and even garlic, can lower calcium absorption due to their lack of vitamin D.
If you are worried about your teenager getting enough calcium from foods, Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews are intended to help achieve recommended daily dietary levels of these nutrients as a supplement to diet/food sources. They come in flavors teens love like milk chocolate and caramel and are individually wrapped so it’s easy to toss in their lunchbox or backpack.
Viactiv is available at major retailers nationwide including CVS, Rite Aid, Target,Walgreens and Walmart, as well as supermarkets nationwide. Plus I have a coupon you can print to save $2 on your next Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews. ( Just click link to print your coupon)
If you would like to learn more about Viactiv, be sure to check them out on Facebook and Instagram. You can also check out the #BeActiv hashtag.
Do you know these facts about calcium and teenagers? I sure didn’t and I am going to work harder on making sure my teen gets the recommended amount of calcium daily.
Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews are available in milk chocolate and caramel flavors at major retailers including CVS, Rite Aid, Target, Walgreens and Walmart, as well as supermarkets nationwide. Save $2 on your next in-store purchase with the Viactiv printable coupon.
Learn more about Viactiv at www.Viactiv.com and enter their current prize promotions on Viactiv’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/Viactiv and new Instagram channel https://instagram.com/viactiv/.
This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation on behalf of Viactiv that contains affiliate links. I received Viactiv products for my own personal use. All opinions, text and experiences are my own.
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