• "Fragile bones are not painful at first. Unfortunately, most people don't realize they have weakened bones until one breaks. By that time, it is hard to make your bones strong again.
• "The good news is that you are never too old or too young to improve your bone health. There are many things you can do to keep bones strong and prevent fractures.
• "At all ages, a diet with enough calcium and vitamin D, together with weight-bearing physical activity every day, can prevent problems later.
• "The bad news is that few people follow the steps known to strengthen and protect their bones.
• "That's the main reason for the Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis.
• "Americans need to know the dangers of bone weakness and do more to prevent it.
• "Many things weaken bones. Some are outside your control. If you have a family member who has bone problems, you could also be at risk. Some medical conditions can also make you prone to bone disease.

"There are some things you can control:

• Get enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet at every age.
• Be physically active.
• Reduce hazards in your home that could increase your risk of falling and breaking bones.
• Talk with your doctor about medicines you are taking that could weaken bones, like medicine for thyroid problems or arthritis.
• Discuss ways to protect bones while treating other problems.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being underweight raises the risk of fracture and bone loss.
• Don’t smoke. Smoking can reduce bone mass and increase your risks for a broken bone.
• Limit alcohol use. Heavy alcohol use reduces bone mass and increases your risk for broken bones."

It is clear in our own work with the women of Curves® that reversing osteoporosis is possible - we see osteoporosis stopped and reversed in the majority of women we re-test one year later.

The Surgeon General's report specifically points to 'a diet with enough calcium' and 'calcium in the diet'.

The best sources of calcium are in our food, not in supplements.

And we need good quality calcium in our diet as a basic requirement to stop and reverse osteoporosis.

Calcium is readily available in most common foods.

And the new research is showing us that vegetables and fruits are the very best sources of calcium, in fact, veggies and fruits are far better sources of calcium than dairy products.

But wait... You may be like so many of the people we consult with who don't get enough fruits and veggies every day, or really just don't like fruits and veggies.

You know how it is. Even though we know better, we still don't do what we should. You know you need the nutrients in the fruit and veggies, and you would be healthier if you ate them.

But the truth is, you don't do it.

If this is you, there is a simple and excellent solution. Why not get your fruits and veggies in a capsule. This is a great way to get some assurance you aren't missing something important in your diet, in a concentrated form - easy-to-take capsules filled with powdered veggies and powdered fruit.

This is what Lisa and I take as our primary once-a-day vitamin supplement. We think it is the best supplement available; that's why we take it ourselves.

Yes, simple changes in our diet can make a big difference in the strength of our bones and our overall health.

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