The month of October celebrates National Bone and Joint Decade Week and National Osteoporosis Day. While osteoporosis is often considered an older person’s disease, it can strike at any age. In the United States today, 10 million individuals are estimated to have osteoporosis and almost 34 million are estimated to have suboptimal bone mass, placing them at a high risk for developing the disease in the future. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to help your patients or clients build healthy bones and prevent this disabling disease. Encouraging consumption of calcium-rich foods such as low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese and promoting regular weight-bearing physical activity are key steps in ensuring optimal bone mass. Our program booklet, The Calcium Connection—Healthy Bodies From One Generation to Another, helps women of all ages understand the unique role calcium plays in overall health, as well as how to achieve adequate intake of this important nutrient. This nutrition education resource, printed in both English and Spanish, is available to health professionals and educators within California free of charge. Those outside of California can order for a nominal fee. Go to our program description page to learn more about the program details and ordering information.

In addition to using this print program with your clients, this online Calcium Quiz can help your clients monitor their intake over time. This online tool takes only a few minutes to complete and research has shown that it yields results as reliable as a three-day food record. More information is available from the Journal of the American Dietetic Association regarding the Calcium Quiz effectiveness. Our online Calcium Quiz has suggestions for eating more calcium-rich foods, and suggests easy ways to help your clients include them in their diet. They can decide which ideas they can incorporate into their diet on a regular basis to increase their calcium intake to the recommended levels.
 
Preventing osteoporosis starts early in life, yet no matter the age, everyone can take steps to building healthier bones. We hope our resources and tools help you reinforce this message with your clients during the month of October and for the rest of the year!
 
Ashley Rosales, R.D.
Project Manager