May is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. Osteoporosis is a medical condition where bones become fragile and more likely to break. Here are some startling facts from the National Osteoporosis Foundation: Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, or 55 percent of the people 50 years of age and older.

In 2005, about 293,000 Americans age 45 and over were admitted to hospitals with a fracture of the femoral neck, a common type of hip fracture. Osteoporosis was the underlying cause of most of these injuries. An average of 24 percent of hip fracture patients aged 50 and over die in the year following their fracture.

The best ways to prevent osteoporosis are to eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, like milk, cheese and yogurt, and engage in regular weight bearing exercise like walking, jogging or even carrying groceries, all of which build bone strength and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

The following resources are available on our website to help you build stronger bones:

• Calcium Quiz
• MyFitness Planner
• Vitamin D: What You Need to Know about the Sunshine Vitamin

As the month of May wraps up, take some time to learn about ways to prevent osteoporosis.

Dairy Council of California