Bone Density

Today was bone-density test day. I'd done the procedure before so I knew that it would be short and painless--hop onto the table and let the scanner do its job.

Being prone to osteoporosis, I was given the prevention riot act by the lab tech.

She commanded the 61-year old me to take 1500 mg daily (500 mg per meal) of calcium, preferably in the form of liquid, chewable or gelcaps (and forgo the humungous calcium tablets I've often purchased at Costco).

Calcium, like exercise helps strengthen bones at any age. It needs to break down in order to be absorbed by the body, she admonished. But it also needs to be accompanied by 400 - 800 I.U. vitamin D3, the only vitamin the body can manufacture from sunlight.

Vitamin D3 deficiency is linked to a surprising number of other health conditions such as depression, back pain, cancer, and macular degeneration. Make sure it is included in some form in your daily intake.

Drink Your Way To Strong Bones

If you want strong bones, you may have to pay more attention to what you're drinking.

Elderly women who drink their daily tea are said to be better off bone-wise than non-drinkers, according on one Australian study.

Moderate beer or wine consumption may even offer some protection.

Replace sodas (even one a day) with mineral water.  

And should you be one among many who's a coffee junkie, add some milk to offset the negative effect of caffeine to your bones.

But don't take my word for it--ask your doctor!