healthy bones. Other countries, including
China and Japan, suffer much lower fracture
rates than the United States and milk-loving
Scandinavia, despite the fact that their people
drink little or no milk. So it seems prudent to
investigate the many other factors that
influence bone strength, especially those that
slow the deconstruction process (see box, p.
15). The best answer is likely to be not a
single large white bullet, but the familiar
balanced diet and regular exercise.
The Many Influences on Bone Health
Good bone health results from a proper
balance between the two ongoing processes
of bone deconstruction and reconstruction.
These processes depend not only on
calcium levels in the body, but also on
physical activity that stimulates bone-
building; hormones and other controlling
signals; trace nutrients (including vitamin
C, magnesium, potassium, and zinc); and