Calcium is essential to your health every day not just to build and maintain strong bones and teeth, but also for your heart, muscles and nerves. According to the National Institutes of Health, calcium also may help prevent dental problems, high blood pressure, colon cancer and other diseases.
At certain times, people need a lot of calcium -- the teen years, during pregnancy and after age 50, for example. Read our Calcium FAQs for more information on calcium and calcium supplementation.
Life stages and calcium.
Check the chart to see how much daily calcium you -- or members of your family -- should be getting. Then go to CalciumInfo.com to see which foods and drinks contain the most calcium. The "Calcium Calculator" can help you estimate current daily calcium intake.
Get into the habit of checking the "Nutrition Facts" labels on products to see how much calcium they provide. If your diet doesn't supply enough calcium, taking TUMS® every day can ensure you're meeting your need for this essential mineral.
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Life Stage
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Daily Calcium Need
(per IOM*)
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Infancy
Babies need calcium for all aspects of healthy physical and mental development. Infants with low birth weights may need extra calcium to "catch up." Both breast milk and infant formulas are rich in calcium.
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| 0-5 months |
210 mg |
| 6-11 months |
270 mg |
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Childhood
Childhood is a period of rapid, dramatic growth. Adequate calcium is vital for building strong bones and healthy teeth. Kids who don't get enough calcium, for example, may be more prone to cavities and other dental problems. Easy-to-take calcium supplements like new, great-tasting, Cherry Blast TUMS Kids can be especially valuable for children who are "picky eaters" or have dairy allergies or lactose intolerance.
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| 1-3 years |
500 mg |
| 4-8 years |
800 mg |
| 9-12 years |
1,300 mg |
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Teenage Years
Calcium is crucial during this stage, since most of the skeleton's peak adult bone mass is formed in the first decades of life. Adolescents who don't meet their daily calcium needs may be more likely to develop bone problems like osteoporosis later. Since teenage diets typically do not include milk or enough healthy foods, TUMS tablets can be an easy way to add calcium.
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Younger Adulthood
Up until about age 30, the body is actively building bone mass. After that point, the body goes into maintenance mode for the skeleton and teeth. Calcium remains important at this stage of life to maintain bone mass and to prevent future problems like osteoporosis. TUMS makes it easy for busy people and families to get enough calcium every day.
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Pregnancy & Motherhood
During pregnancy, the developing fetus draws on the calcium in its mother's body. Nursing mothers also lose calcium when producing breast milk. Pregnant women and new mothers need to replace this "lost" calcium, and prenatal vitamins usually do not contain enough. TUMS tablets are a safe, pleasant and easy way to add calcium.
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Women 18 or younger
1,300 mg |
Women 19+
1,000 mg |
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Older Adulthood
The risk of having a fracture increases with age, certain medical conditions, and medication. Women are more vulnerable to loss of bone mass at menopause due to hormonal changes. Men who don't get enough calcium also can develop bone weakness and fractures. Using a daily calcium supplement like TUMS can help to protect the bones and prevent disability, osteoporosis and other health issues at this time of life.
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Men &Women
1,200 mg |
Women 50+ not taking
hormone replacement
therapy
1,500 mg |
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TUMS provides daily calcium
TUMS are an easy calcium solution for everyone. Just one TUMS E-X or Smoothies tablet, for instance, provides as much calcium as one cup of milk or yogurt, or two cups of cottage cheese.
Natural calcium combines with other elements in nature, in our case carbon and oxygen (calcium carbonate). The elemental calcium is the calcium portion of that blend which you need for your bones. For calcium carbonate, it is about 40% of elemental calcium. Please take a look at the elemental calcium section of CalciumInfo.com.
- Different TUMS products have different levels of elemental calcium. Determine your daily calcium needs, and get into the habit of eating healthy foods. Decide which TUMS product is best for you based on your calcium needs and everyday diet. Consider your flavor preferences and heartburn relief, too.
- To meet your calcium needs, you may need to take several TUMS each day. Since your body absorbs calcium best over time, space them out during the day. Take TUMS with meals whenever possible, which improves calciumabsorption.
- Keep TUMS handy wherever you go to remind yourself to take your daily calcium -- or when you need fast heartburn relief on the go. New TUMS "To Go" mini-bottles, packs and rolls are the right size for your purse, pocket, desk or car.
Calcium is in every product.
Regular 200 mg elemental calcium per tablet
E-X 750 300 mg elemental calcium per tablet
E-X Sugar Free 300 mg elemental calcium per tablet
Smoothies 300 mg elemental calcium per tablet
TUMS Kids 300 mg elemental calcium per tablet
Ultra 400 mg elemental calcium per tablet
Quik Pak 400 mg elemental calcium per packet