Here's what you should eat to help them hold up over the long haul. When people want to lose weight, calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt and cheese are often the first to go, because they're often high in fat. First, all these products come in reduced-fat versions. Second, and perhaps more importantly, they can be vital in preventing osteoporosis, also known as brittle bone disease. About 25 million Americans have some form of osteoporosis, according to American Dietetic Association.
Osteoporosis is a condition of gradually weakening and increasingly brittle bones.
Bones can become so weak they may break under normal use or from a minor fall. Because osteoporosis develops slowly, people often don't realize they have it until well after middle age. By the time women go through menopause, nearly one in three will develop the condition. Women who have a family history of osteoporosis, who have small body frames or are underweight, or who are menopausal are at greatest risk. It's not just older women who need to be concerned.