by Michele Krauss

No More Lazy Bones
Consuming calcium-rich foods and taking calcium supplements can help ward off osteoporosis, but a recent Finnish study found that exercise packs a more powerful punch. Activities like weight training, yoga, and pilates can actually help build up bone mass as well as increase strength. Regular exercise also improves balance, helping to prevent falls. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 will be affected by osteoporosis.

Sugar Addicts May Have Quirky Gene
You may not be 100 percent to blame for that urge to eat a lot of sweets, researchers from the University of Toronto found. The study discovered that about one in five people possess a common variant of a gene that controls the brain’s ability to sense sugars in the body. This eccentric gene may make it harder for the brain to signal the body to stop eating. Those who had the gene variant tended to have bigger waistlines than those who didn’t. The best remedy for this dilemma is to stop eating before you’re satisfied, since it will take a while for your brain to catch up with the sweets.

Cutting Back on Fat for Baby
Women who consume a diet high in fat should think twice before continuing that trend while pregnant. Research published in The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology found that mice fed high-fat diets were more likely to have supersized offspring. It seems that too much dietary fat causes the placenta to “go into overdrive,” overloading the fetus with too many nutrients. So while “eating for two” may be okay while pregnant, make sure those eats are healthy choices, low on fat.