Some dark green, leafy vegetables, canned salmon with edible bones, tofu made with calcium sulfate, and calcium fortified soy milk can add a significant amount of calcium to your diet. In addition, do some weight bearing exercise like walking for a total of 30 minutes each day. The National Institutes of Health advise adults over 65 to consume 1500 mg of calcium daily. This amount may be difficult to achieve through food alone so for some people a calcium supplement is a wise choice. If you do take a supplement, take it between meals.
Calcium can hinder the absorption of iron from other foods.
Yes, food can provide an adequate diet and the pleasures of eating too. But for those who are unable or unwilling to eat a healthy diet a multivitamin and mineral supplement is a good way to get all the needed vitamins and minerals. The guideline is to get enough without getting too much. Physicians regularly prescribe supplements for certain health conditions. It is not a good idea to take mega-doses without first discussing it with your physician.