Calcium is essential for bone development and healthy teeth. It is also important for the muscles and helping blood to clot. Children will need to eat more whilst growing, but adults should be eating around 700mg calcium a day.
One of the signs you may not be getting enough calcium is poor oral health. Specifically, you may begin to get an increased number of tooth cavities that need fillings. If this is the case, talk to your dentist about your general oral health and your diet. It may be that they advise you to consume more calcium in your everyday diet to help strengthen your teeth.
You can get calcium in a number of ways. Milk, cheese, yoghurts and dairy products are a good source of calcium, though they are usually higher in fat. If you want to consume less fat or you don’t eat dairy, try vegetables like cabbage and broccoli.