The National Academy of Sciences recommends the following calcium intake levels for various age groups:

• Adults ages 19-50 need 1,000 mg of calcium a day, the equivalent of drinking at least three 8-oz. glasses of milk.
• Adults over the age of 50 need 1,200 mg of calcium a day, the equivalent of drinking four 8-oz. glasses of milk.
• Teens ages 9-18 need 1,300 mg of calcium a day, or about four 8-oz. glasses of milk.
• Kids ages 4-8 need 800 mg of calcium a day, or about three 8-oz. glasses of milk.
• Kids ages 1-3 need 500 mg of calcium a day, the equivalent of about two 8-oz. glasses of milk.

However, our Stone-Age cousins would be shocked.

• 90% of adult women don’t get enough calcium
• 85% of teen girls don’t get enough calcium
• 60% of adult men don’t get enough calcium
• 30% of children ages 1-5 don’t get enough calcium

Recent research has shown that eating low fat dairy foods has many health benefits including helping to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, osteoporosis and certain cancers, and help you lose weight, and keep the weight off. There are some simple ways to add more dairy products to your diet. Grab some cheese for an on the go snack. Eat yogurt for breakfast. Check out the 3-A-Day web site for easy ways to get three servings of dairy products a day.

And you can always take a chocolate milk break! If you are worried that chocolate milk is not nutritious, relax and enjoy. Chocolate milk provides the same nutrients as regular milk. Studies done at the University of Vermont show that children that drink flavored milk have a better overall diet than children that do not. Kids drink chocolate milk instead of soda or sugared fruit juice, and have less sugar in their diet. And, they get the calcium, Vitamin D, potassium and protein that milk provides.