Susan Cody: Women and Calcium -- What You Can Do To Build Stronger Bones

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Nearly 80 percent of the people who suffer from Osteoporosis are women!

Calcium will not completely eliminate the risk but it helps - a lot. Each year, Americans suffer from 1.5 million fractures because of osteoporosis.

Here is what we can do -
Have a bone density test done.

Eat calcium rich foods -
Think dairy - milk, cheese, yogurt. Keep it low fat if you can. If you are lactose intolerant, vegetarian/vegan or just don't like dairy, try Chinese cabbage, kale and broccoli. Although most grains are not high in calcium (unless they have been fortified), they do contribute calcium to the diet because they are usually eaten frequently. There are many calcium-fortified foods now available, including fruit juices, breads, fruit drinks, tofu and cereals.

If you like fish then sardines and salmon are good choices.

Consider a calcium supplement and make sure it has Vitamin D added because this will aid with absorption.
Bone density can begin to lessen in our late 20s and 30s and post-menopausal women at at particular risk. Pregnant and breastfeeding women need to take care to make calcium intake a daily goal.

So getting plenty of calcium can help our bones stay healthy and it's never too late to help your body stay strong.

So pass the (low fat) milkshake!