This month we are going to talk about strong bones!

Bone health is essentially how strong and healthy your bones are. Our bones have many roles to play in our bodies; they provide structure, they protect our organs, they are the anchors for our muscles, and they store calcium!

Bone health is extremely important for our overall health! Our bones are continuously changing throughout our lives, new bone gets made, old bones get broken down.

There are many things you can do to be sure you have strong bones. 

1. How much calcium we have in our diet is one thing that affects our bone health.
2. How much vitamin D we get daily. A vitamin D supplement is one way to get this. You can also get vitamin D from the sun and from foods.
3. Physical activity (like strength training, and weight bearing exercises) really helps improve bone health and reduces our risk of osteoporosis (the breakdown of our bones).

There are so many foods that can help to build and strengthen your bones.

1. Dairy foods like cheese,  yogurt, kefir and milk.
2. Dark green vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts, dark green lettuce, spinach, collard greens, and kale.
3. Seafood like salmon, tuna, sardines, shrimp, herring and trout.
4. Add healthy seeds like sesame, sunflower, chia and quinoa to meals.

It is important to consult your doctor before taking vitamin D. Talk with your doctor about vitamin D tests, supplements, and what your body needs!