CALCIUM: BUILDING YOUR BONE BANK

Calcium does not work alone. After you eat or drink foods that contain calcium, your body must absorb the calcium through your intestines. To do this, your body needs a small amount of vitamin D. If your body does not absorb enough calcium, you could develop Rickets, a disease that softens bones.

In addition to adequate amounts of calcium, also be sure you are getting adequate sources of vitamin D. Some might include the following:

· Sunlight (Your body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight.)

· Milk fortified with vitamin D

In addition, some juices or other products may be fortified with vitamin D. A quick look at nutrition labels to should help you find foods that are fortified with vitamin D.

Exercise is important as well. Studies show that regular, weight-bearing exercise helps you build strong bones. Combined with a balanced diet, exercise does the following:

· Helps your body make hormones that protect bones

· Generates electrical activity that promotes bone growth and repair

· Boosts the flow of blood and nutrients to your bones.

So by putting together a healthy diet and exercise, you can help ensure that your body has a good supply of calcium. A good supply will help build up your "bone bank." Bones that have a good supply of calcium stored in your them means that there will be plenty for growing, rebuilding bones, and performing the many body functions that require calcium. And keep in mind that bones that are packed with calcium are much less likely to break and keep you out of action.

In addition, you are saving calcium that you will need to withdraw from the bone bank when you are older. People who do not store enough calcium when they are young are at high risk for getting diseases such as osteoporosis later in life.

Osteoporosis is a disease of older people that can make bones so fragile that they can break from the stress of merely bending over. It can result in a hunched-over appearance. People with osteoporosis may not realize they have the disease until one or more bones fracture. By this time, it is usually too late to undo the bone damage.

So get the calcium you need now. Build up your bone bank for a healthy body now and later in life.