Evidence-based nutrition, in plain English — every entry sourced from clinical research.

Foods High in Calcium

If you are trying to eat more Calcium, ranked lists are useful because the best options are often not the most obvious ones. The foods below are ordered by Calcium content in mg per 100 g, drawn from the foods in our database.

Remember: ranking by one nutrient is only one way to choose foods. Pairing matters too. Use the Calcium compound page to understand absorption, forms and interactions.

Parmesan — the top-ranked source

Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g · values per 100 g
Calories 392
Total Fat 25 g
Saturated Fat 14.85 g
Sodium 1175 mg
Potassium 92 mg
Total Carbohydrate 3.22 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Total Sugars 0.11 g
Protein 35.75 g
Calcium, protein, vitamin B12, phosphorus
Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC 170848)

Top 15 Calcium foods

  1. Parmesan — 1,184.0 mg per 100g (91% DV). Calcium, protein, vitamin B12
  2. Sesame Seeds — 975.0 mg per 100g (75% DV). Calcium, lignans, magnesium
  3. Cheddar Cheese — 711.0 mg per 100g (55% DV). Calcium, protein, vitamin B12
  4. Chia Seeds — 595.4 mg per 100g (46% DV). Calcium, phosphorus, plant omega-3 (ALA)
  5. Mozzarella — 505.0 mg per 100g (39% DV). Calcium, protein, vitamin B12
  6. Sardines — 382.0 mg per 100g (29% DV). Omega-3, calcium (with bones), vitamin D
  7. Kale — 254.0 mg per 100g (20% DV). Vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C
  8. Almonds — 232.3 mg per 100g (18% DV). Vitamin E, magnesium, manganese
  9. Flaxseed — 229.9 mg per 100g (18% DV). Thiamine, magnesium, lignans
  10. Black Beans — 191.0 mg per 100g (15% DV). Folate, magnesium, anthocyanins (values for cooked)
  11. Turmeric — 168.0 mg per 100g (13% DV). Manganese, iron, curcumin
  12. Tofu — 149.0 mg per 100g (11% DV). Calcium, manganese, selenium
  13. Hazelnuts — 134.7 mg per 100g (10% DV). Vitamin E, magnesium, manganese
  14. Whole Wheat Bread — 132.3 mg per 100g (10% DV). Manganese, selenium, B vitamins
  15. Kefir — 130.0 mg per 100g (10% DV). Probiotics (diverse strains), calcium, B12

How to actually eat more Calcium

A handful of additions usually move the needle more than a full diet reset. Calcium is best consumed from whole foods rather than supplements whenever possible. Try adding one new source each week, track how you feel, and build from there rather than forcing every meal to hit a target.

For broader context, see our Bone Health hub and the Calcium compound page.

Common questions

How much Calcium do I need a day? Needs differ by age, sex, life stage and health status. The figures here are not prescriptions; use them to compare foods, then apply your own context.

Are supplements better than food sources? Not automatically. Food provides co-factors such as fibre, fat and other micronutrients that help the body use Calcium effectively. Supplements are useful for filling confirmed gaps.

Scientific references & clinical evidence

This guide is built on peer-reviewed research — verify the primary sources below.

  1. BMJ (Clinical research ed.) (2015). “Calcium intake and bone mineral density: systematic review and meta-analysis”. PubMed / source ↗
  2. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) (2025). “Calcium Supplementation in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies”. PubMed / source ↗

A note on health content. This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical or dietetic advice. Where we cite research, links to the original papers are provided so you can read the evidence yourself.

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