The Sunshine Plate Healthy eating on a budget

Nutrient

Calcium

Mineral essential for bone structure, muscle function, and nerve signaling.

  • 1 tracked food source

The cheapest way to get it today

Function

Nearly all the body’s calcium is stored in bones and teeth, which also serve as a mineral reserve the body draws from when dietary intake is low — making chronically low intake a slow, silent driver of bone loss.

Food sources

Dairy products, fortified plant milks, and leafy greens like Spinach (though oxalates in spinach reduce how much of its calcium is actually absorbed compared to dairy).

Relevant populations

Elderly — works alongside Vitamin D to protect bone density.

Citations

[1] NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Calcium fact sheet.