[thedoc (OP)]

I was wondering, if all my dairy nutrition were to come from ice cream, how much ice cream would I need to eat each day?  

Thanks for your fabulous work! I love your show and am a long-time listener!
Asked by Margaret Feaster


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[chapter podcast=1001320 track=16.03.22/Naked_Scientists_Show_16.03.22_1004917.mp3]  ...or Listen to the Answer[/chapter] or [download as MP3]

[CliffordK]

The US RDA for Calcium
Age 50+
Male: 1000 mg
Female: 1200 mg
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter11/articles/winter11pg12.html

If one considered milk as one's primary source of Calcium, then:
http://gotblood.ucla.edu/workfiles/Documents/Calcium_Content.pdf

Vanilla Ice Cream, 1 cup, 176 mg Ca.  1200/176 mg = 6.8 cups of Ice Vanilla Ice Cream.
Cheddar Cheese, 204 mg / oz.  1200/204 = 5.9 oz
Nonfat Yogurt, 200 mg / 6 oz  6*6 = 36 oz
Lowfat Plain Yogurt 400mg / 8 oz   3*8 = 24 oz
Milk, 300 mg / cup 1200/300 = 4 cups milk.

Obviously there are other foods that contain some calcium, and one can take it in a number of forms.  Milk and milk products also have other nutrient value.

http://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/calcium_content_of_selected_foods/