
My mom recently revealed to me that she takes medication for osteoporosis, and not only did it spook me a bit, it also made me think about my own bone health. Am I getting enough calcium? Am I doing enough to keep my bones strong as I age?

I am always up for a cup of
tea. I like all colors and varieties. Herbal, green, black, rooibos, iced, hot, with lemon, with cream — I am game for any and all.

Hopefully ever woman knows that calcium is good for her bones and that it can help prevent osteoporosis. A
new study indicates that eating your calcium, as opposed to taking a calcium supplement, may be more effective in creating strong bones.
Though not definitive, the study found that women who obtained most of their daily calcium from food had healthier bones with a higher bone density than women whose calcium came mainly from supplemental tablets.
With all this talk about cutting cardio out of your routine, I thought it was important to outline the major benefits of cardiovascular activity. So here it goes:
- Reduces risk of disease: Including obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke and certain types of cancer.
- Improves blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels: Exercise increases your HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) and decreases your LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) in your blood.
- Improves heart function: A stronger heart doesn't need to beat as fast and pumps blood more efficiently, which means improved blood flow in the body.
- Reduces risk of osteoporosis: Weight-bearing aerobic exercises (walking) reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
- Improves muscle mass: Muscles move your body, the healthier the muscles are, the better you move.
- Increases calories burned: More calories burned means more weight lost.
This does not include all the emotional and aesthetic benefits you get from a few good runs or workouts on the elliptical (less stress, more sleep, improved sexual performance etc.).

I've been talking a lot about Diabetes and if you're putting yourself
at risk or not. So, along with Diabetes, what are the identifiers of common health diseases?
Medical News Today has outlined four "prediseases" to watch for, here is the first:
Osteopenia:
- Why It's Important: Approximately 34 million Americans over age 50 have the precondition called osteopenia, putting them at risk for osteoporosis.