Q: Where can I get omega-3 eggs and calcium candy?
– Debbie in Fairfax, Virginia

A: Both omega-3 fortified eggs and chocolate calcium chews can be found in most supermarkets and pharmacies across the United States. Omega-3 fats, which are typically found in fish, help lower heart-disease risk as well as improve mood and mental function. You’ll be seeing them in more than just eggs in the future. The calcium chews, such as Viactiv, supply up to 500mg of calcium (about half a woman’s daily need for this mineral) plus other bone-building nutrients like vitamins D and K. -Elizabeth Somer

Q: I can’t tolerate milk products. What nutrients am I missing and what can I do to replace them other than taking supplements?
– Gity in New York

A: A person is hard-pressed to meet calcium needs (1,000 mg to 1,200 mg/day) when milk is avoided. At 300 milligrams a glass, no other food comes close to this level of calcium, except calcium-fortified soymilk and orange juice. Moderate sources include: canned salmon with bones (167 mg/3 ounces), cooked collard greens (145 mg/1 /2 cup), cooked spinach (106 mg/1 /2 cup), and cooked dried beans (45 mg/1 /2 cup). Milk (not cheese or yogurt) is the only reliable dietary source of vitamin D, a nutrient essential in calcium absorption and deposition into bones. Vitamin D-fortified soymilk and some fortified breakfast cereals are the only other dietary sources. Other than that, you must take a supplement to reach recommended daily levels of 200IU to 400IU. Milk also is an excellent source of vitamin B2 and other B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and protein. -Elizabeth Somer

Q: Is milk really the best source of calcium?
– Donna in Washington, D.C.

A: Milk is a great source of calcium, but is certainly not the best or the only source. an 8-ounce glass of milk (whether it is whole, 2% or nonfat) contains about 300 milligrams of calcium and 100IU of vitamin D (a vitamin essential for calcium absorption and deposition into bone). A cup of fortified soymilk (such as 8th Continent) supplies the same amount of both calcium and vitamin D, a cup of fortified orange juice also supplies this amount, and a cup of nonfat yogurt supplies up to 488 milligrams of calcium, but no vitamin D. Sardines with the bones and cooked collard greens are also good sources of calcium. – Elizabeth Somer