NOT GETTING ENOUGH CALCIUM IN

our diets, most Americans do things that make it more difficult for our bodies to absorb calcium. When that happens, the rest of the body raids a reliable source of calcium - our bones, "eventually leading to bone porosity or osteoporosis, says Lynn Moss, a registered dietitian who advises for Optimize food supplements.

Moss says people should be aware of these calcium thieves:

* Vitamin D is necessary for the intestinal absorption of calcium, but a lot of Americans are deficient in vitamin D as well.

* Diets high in sodium increase the loss of calcium and other minerals through the kidneys into the urine.

* A number of prescription medications have been shown to interfere with calcium absorption.

* Smoking and regular alcohol consumption can accelerate bone loss and impede calcium absorption.

* People who get little or no exercise - especially weight- bearing exercise, such as walking and weightlifting - are more likely to lose calcium from their bones if they don't ingest the recommended daily allowance of 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams.

* Extremely high protein intake or excessive consumption of caffeine or soda may also hinder calcium absorption.

Dark green, leafy vegetables and low-fat dairy products are the best food sources of calcium, and orange juice, cereals and breads are among the foods fortified with calcium.

* October is National Breast Cancer Month. The American Institute for Cancer Research is offering a free brochure, Reducing Your Risk of Breast Cancer, that provides guidelines and tips on how to control dietary and other lifestyle factors that affect a woman's risk for breast cancer. Consumers can get the brochure, Questions and Answers About Breast Health and Breast Cancer, which provides detailed information on breast cancer risk, treatment and early detection, including how to do a self-examination. Call (800) 843-8144, Ext. 25.

* The National Epilepsy Foundation has a new brochure, VNS Therapy for Epilepsy . VNS is short for Vagus Nerve Stimulator, which is a small battery-operated device implanted in the chest and connected to a large nerve in the neck, the vagus nerve, that fights seizures by sending small pulses of electrical energy to the brain. This device is designed for people whose seizures do not respond to medications and who are either not good candidates for brain surgery or don't want to have brain surgery. Single copies are available by calling (800) 332-1000. Additional copies can be purchased through the Foundation's catalog department at (800) 213-5821.

* The newly relaunched Web site 2take10.com offers parents useful tools and helpful hints from parenting expert Dr. Michael Popkin, to help tackle tough conversations. This Web site is part of Take 10: Start Talking So Your Kids Don't Smoke, a national parent-directed program that encourages parents to take 10 minutes to begin a dialogue about not smoking with their kids.

Fund-raisers

* The Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, Sidney High School Track, 1215 Campbell Road. This walk will benefit the 150 Cystic Fibrosis families in the Miami Valley by helping to raise money toward a cure for this deadly genetic disease. Call 298-6906 for additional information.

　　From Healthy.net