I haven't written a "real" journal entry for a while, so here goes.Eah and I just came back from a health seminar called "Bone Basics" and learned a few intersting things.1st - women aren't the only ones with osteoporosis/osteopena, over 2 million men in the US have it.  It is recommended for anyone over the age of 50 to get a BMD or Bone Mass Density scan.  The numbers come out as a T-Score.  I scored in the appropriate area for my age.  The goal is to reduce fracture risk, even simple compression fractures that you don't know that you have.2nd - Vitamin D is crucial to bone health, the recommended daily intake is 1000 - 2000 units per day.  Since this vitamin is difficult to OD on and has little digestive system issues, it's OK to take it all at once.  Also Calcium suppliments of 1200 to 1500 mg per day, are recommended but this can be difficult to digest and it is recommended to break it up into taking it two to three times a day.  Vitamin D deficiency has also been found to be one of the causes for symtoms that look like fybromialgia and other diseases.3rd - bone stress causes bone tissue growth, any impact type of excersize can do this.  A new way that this is being practiced in Europe is with a therapy called Whole Body Vibration, where a person stands on a Vibration Plate for 10 to 15 minutes per day. (See Wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whole_body_vibration )  We were shown slides that showed the effect of this therapy on the bones of mice and sheep.  This therapy is currently approved by the FDA for muscle therapy and it is soon to be approved in the US for bone therapy.The speaker allowed questions during the presentation and I asked about how Proton Pump Inhibitors, PPI's like Prilosec effect the ability to absorb calcium.  I was answered that there are current studies that have identified this to be happening and it is recommended that people on these medicaitons (for the treatment of acid reflux or GERD) to take a break from them and use simple antacids with calcium suppliments.  The doctor also said that the studies are not final or conclusive and that there needs to be more studies that include the difference between people that are taking calcium and those who are not taking calcium.Over all it was a greatly informative presentation.I recommend searching the World Health Organizations website for these and other health related issues: http://www.who.int/en/Here's to your better health and well being.