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Lactose Intolerance
Lactose Intolerance and Minorities: The Real Story
Can't Minorities Meet Their Calcium Needs Without Consuming Dairy Foods?
Milk and other dairy foods are the preferred source of calcium. This opinion is supported by the National Institutes of Health Expert Panel on Optimal Calcium Intake, as well by other health and nutrition organizations.
"Adolescents in general don't come close to meeting recommended dietary intakes of calcium, and minorities tend to consume less calcium from their diets than Caucasians. This could increase adolescent minorities' risk of major chronic diseases in later life such as osteoporosis, hypertension, colon cancer, and stroke."
Connie Weaver, Ph.D.
Professor and Head Department of Foods and Nutrition
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
Intake of foods such as salmon with bones, legumes, and some green leafy vegetables may help meet calcium needs. These foods generally contain less calcium/serving or in some cases the calcium may be less bioavailable than from milk and milk products. For example, a recent study by Dr. Connie Weaver indicated a person would need to consume 8 cups of spinach, nearly 5 cups of red beans, or 2 1/4 cups of broccoli to get the same amount of calcium absorbed from 1 cup of milk.
Sample Nutrition Facts Label for 1% Lowfat Milk with Vitamins A & D Added
Source: USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 13.
A number of calcium-fortified foods including juices, fruit drinks, soy beverages, breads, cereals, and snack foods are available to help meet calcium needs. Although all of these sources provide calcium, they are not nutritionally equivalent to dairy foods. In addition to calcium, dairy foods provide high quality protein, phosphorus, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin B 12 , vitamin A, magnesium, vitamin B 6 , thiamin, vitamin D (if fortified), and niacin equivalents. The Food Guide Pyramid indicates the relative amounts of food to eat from each of the five major food groups. Because each of these food groups provides some, but not all, of the nutrients needed for health, foods in one group (e.g., vegetables) can't replace those in another group (e.g., dairy foods). Health experts regard calcium supplements as a supplement to, not a substitute for, a nutritionally adequate diet.
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