Boosting calcium intake may be useful only for those who consume very little calcium, e.g., less than 400 mg of calcium per day. For those who are not grossly deficient in calcium, supplements and dairy products have little or no effect. There are many good sources of calcium. Kale, broccoli, and other green leafy vegetables contain calcium that is readily absorbed by the body. A recent report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that calcium absorbability was actually higher for kale than for milk, and concluded that greens such as kale can be considered to be at least as good as milk in terms of their calcium absorbability.
Beans are also rich in calcium.
Protein is also important in calcium balance. There is no nutritional requirement for dairy products, and there are serious problems that can result from the proteins, sugar, fat, and contaminants in milk products. Breast-feeding is the preferred method of infant feeding. As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, whole cow s milk should not be given to infants under one year of age. Parents should be alerted to the potential risks to their children from cow s milk use.