You can reach 1,200 to 1,500 mg by drinking four to five glasses of skim milk daily. Or, you can take calcium supplements. Calcium is best absorbed by your body when you take it with food, especially milk. Keep in mind that your body can only absorb 500 mg of calcium at a time, so you should spread your calcium intake throughout the day. As women age, their ability to absorb Vitamin D decreases, so their intake of Vitamin D must rise.
Quitting smoking can prevent osteoporosis by preserving bone.
If you smoke, talk to your health care provider about the things you can do to help kick the habit. To return to the Women's Health at Penn site, please use your browser's Back button.