By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - We know that calcium has numerous advantages including helping build strong bones as well as improved heart health. The obvious answer is to get needed calcium from your diet rather than from supplements.

Good sources of calcium include dairy products, canned salmon and sardines, leafy green vegetables, almonds, and calcium-fortified cereals and orange juice.

Despite this fact, many people do not get the recommended 1200 mg of calcium daily. This is a great conversation to have with your physician. Should you add a calcium supplement? Another idea is a supplement of vitamin D to assist in the absorption of calcium from the intestine.