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Nutrition & Dietetics vocabulary · Vitamins and Minerals

Calcium

Meaning in nutrition & dietetics, with examples

/ˈkælsiəm/nounCommon term

In nutrition & dietetics, calcium means: The most abundant mineral in the body, stored mainly in bones and teeth. It is also needed for muscle contraction, nerve signals and blood clotting.

In Turkish: kalsiyum

How it is used

Discussed in bone health, pregnancy, childhood and older age. Main sources are milk, yogurt, cheese, fortified plant drinks, tahini and some green vegetables. Vitamin D helps the body absorb it. Dietitians talk about calcium intake, calcium-rich foods and calcium supplements.

Example sentences

  1. Plant-based drinks are only a good calcium source if they are fortified.

  2. Adolescence is a key period for building bone, so calcium intake matters.

Common collocations

  • calcium intake
  • calcium-rich foods
  • calcium absorption
  • calcium supplement
  • mineralAn inorganic element, such as calcium, iron, zinc or potassium, that the body needs for bones, blood, nerves and many chemical reactions, and must get from food and water.
  • vitamin DA fat-soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium and keep bones healthy. The skin makes it in sunlight, and small amounts come from oily fish, eggs and fortified foods.
  • fortifiedDescribing a food to which vitamins or minerals have been added, often ones not naturally present, to improve nutrition, such as flour with folic acid or salt with iodine.
  • absorptionThe process by which digested nutrients pass from the intestine, mainly the small intestine, into the blood or lymph so the body can use them.

More terms: Vitamins and Minerals

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.