New science shows that working more calcium into your diet may prevent blood vessel blockages in the brain. Based on food-consumption questionnaires answered by 41,526 Japanese people ages 40 to 59, a study published in the September issue of Stroke indicated that high dietary calcium intake — especially from dairy — correlated to lower blood pressure and, therefore, a lower incidence of stroke. According to the study, the dairy protein casein enhances calcium absorption, which may explain why cheese, milk, and yogurt displayed a stronger link to stroke reduction than calcium-rich nondairy foods. How much calcium should you be getting? The DRI for adult men and women is 1,000 mg a day, plus 400-800 IU of vitamin D for improved absorption.
