AVAILABILITY OF CALCIUM IN BAGOONG ALAMANG DRIED ALAMANG, CANNED BANGOS OYSTER SHELL, AND BALUT1


BY SILVESTRE V. BERSAMIN, OLYMPIA N. GONZALEZ, AND JOSE I. SULIT
Of the Bureau of Fisheries, Manila


INTRODUCTION

Calcium occupies a prominent place in the human body’s mineral composition. Since it is essentially useful in the maintenance of bones and teeth, most of it is found in the bony skeleton. It is not found in the same proportion in all foods. Many of the foods commonly liked by people are entirely lacking in calcium or contain small amounts of it. The Oriental diet is poor in calcium. This is typically true of the Filipino who generally lives on cereals, fish, and vegetables. Calcium- deficient diets have also been noted in the United States, England, Scotland, and other European countries (Bogart, 1949). This paper intends to acquaint the people with some food products which are good sources of available calcium. The products under investigation are common, cheap, and easily obtainable by the average family and thus would be considered good substitutes for milk which is an excellent source of calcium but an expensive item in the diet.


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