Healthy Eating in Schools guidance 2020: supplementary information and advice on energy and key nutrients
This is supplementary guidance to the guidance book on Healthy Eating in Schools focusing upon providing information about the energy and key nutrients which form the basis for provision of school food and drink.
Calcium
Why do we need it?
Calcium is an essential mineral.
We need it for the development of strong healthy bones and teeth. 99% of the calcium found in our body is found in these places.
It makes sure our blood clots normally.
It is also needed for regulating our heart beat.
Sources
The best sources of calcium are milk and dairy products.
Other sources include green leafy vegetables, soya beans, soya drinks with added calcium, tofu, nuts, bread and fish where the bones are also consumed such as sardines and pilchards.
Additional information
We need vitamin D to help our body absorb calcium. This vitamin is also known as the "sunshine vitamin" as the body can make it after exposure to sunshine.
It is important that children and teenagers get enough calcium as bone growth is almost complete by the early twenties.
Building a strong skeleton during these years will help to protect against osteoporosis in later life.
Osteoporosis is a disease in which our bones become fragile and weak and are therefore likely to break more easily.
Contact
Email: lyndsey.fogg@gov.scot
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