I've become pretty rabid about this lately. My friend just broke her arm pretty badly, and it cannot be pinned (it's in a weird area for a cast) because it turns out she has osteoporosis and didn't know it. Her doctor told her she will no longer have much use of that arm once the break heals. I have osteoporosis in two of my vertabrae, and general bone loss in other areas. Yeah, I'm older than most of you, but I've been reading that bone loss starts in your 20s so hopefully everyone is getting enough dairy AND taking calcium along with vitamin D. If you take pills for acid reflux, be sure and wait several hours before you take your vitamins because vitamins need stomach acid to absorb well (I just learned that). Also, if you have reflux, taking calcium citrate is better than other forms.
Yes. And Yes. That and a multi-vitamin. My mom has peri-osteoperosis (sp?) and I want to avoid that like the plague.
Most women can only add to calcium to bones until age 16, then all you can do is retain what you have, and that means supplementing your calcium supply so that your body never has to reach into the reserves of calcium in your bones (which of course weakens them).
I'm in big trouble I didn't start calcium intake until I was 21... I have never been a big milk person... and so I know I have very little in my actual bones It's a pretty scary thing!
I drink milk every morning, but I also take a multivitamin every morning that has a large amount of calcium in it, and I also take an extra calcium supplement along with it and vitamin C.
Actually, I would recommend for any woman at any age to be doing weight bearing activity to strengthen weak bones and to keep bones strong. You can take all the vitamin D and calcium you want, the fact is that your body won't use more than you need and you can still get osteoporosis even if you do take supplements.
Sheila - you're not older than me, and like you, I have some osteoporosis in my back. My doctor says, exercise and fosamax.
And I've always been a milk and cheese devourer, and come from a family of big people - professional athletes on both sides.
So take your calcium, everyone, and exercise those bones.
I take my calcium every night before bed. It actually helps you sleep, naturally!
Also, one more word of encouragement. I'd had awful reflux for about 2 years. When I had my weight down significantly last year, it completely disappeared.
I try to get my calcium through milk, cheese and yogurt. I also take a great multi vitamin from a national vitamin chain called women's ultra mega vitamin. (I am not sure I can mention the chain's name here.) Anyway this vitamin give me energy and supplements calcium. It also has some other good nutrients in it. If you want to know more PM me.
Some other factors may also help lower the risk of osteoporosis:
Take care with caffeine. Although the votes aren't all in, there is some evidence that drinking a lot of coffee - about four or more cups per day - can increase the risk of fracture. Caffeine tends to promote calcium excretion in urine.
Avoid too much protein. Getting too much protein can leach calcium from your bones. As your body digests protein, it releases acids into the bloodstream, which the body neutralizes by drawing calcium from the bones. Animal protein seems to cause more of this calcium leaching than vegetable protein does.(3) Just how important protein is as a risk factor for osteoporosis is still up in the air.
Get enough vitamin A, but not too much. Long-associated with good vision, vitamin A has also been found to direct the process of borrowing and redepositing calcium in bone. However, too much preformed vitamin A can promote fractures. Avoid vitamin supplements that have a full RDA (5,000 IU) of vitamin A as preformed vitamin A, unless prescribed by your doctor. Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene does not increase one's fracture risk.
For those who do take calcium supplements, be careful not to take too much at once. I know the ones I have at home are 600mg each pill, and the bottle says to take 2 pills. However, the average body can only absorb up to 500-600mg at one time, so if you take both pills at the same time, the second one will NOT be absorbed! Just a note to let you know that even if you think you're getting enough from your supplements, you may be only absorbing half of what you swallow
Are you taking your calcium?
I didn't start calcium intake until I was 21... I have never been a big milk person... and so I know I have very little in my actual bones 
