Women’s Health Tip: Keeping Your Bones Healthy as You Age

Travis B. Van Dyke, M.D.

At my Orlando-area practice, many of my patients ask me what they can do to protect their bone health as they age. 

There are two important tips that I give them: include plenty of calcium and vitamin D in your diet and exercise daily.

For adults aged 19 to 50, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) is 1,000 mg of calcium a day. For women after the age of 50, the RDA increases to 1,200 mg of calcium a day. In order for your body to absorb the calcium, it needs vitamin D. The RDA of vitamin D for adults aged 19 to 70 is  600 international units a day, and increases to 800 for adults 71 and older. Adding at least 30 minutes of physical activity to your daily routine can help you build strong bones and slow the process of bone loss.

Health Tip Originally Published in Central Florida Lifestyle Magazine, April 2013