Dairy Australia is calling on all Australians to do the 'Milkshake' for National Healthy Bones Week in August.  The 'Milkshake' theme encourages every body to team up dairy foods and exercise for optimal bone health.

Every body shake

Get your body moving for strong bones

Everybody milkshake

Give your bones a calcium boost with a milkshake or other delicious dairy food

Exercise and a calcium rich diet are essential at all ages for healthy bones. But for optimal bone health these lifestyle factors are best applied together, one enhances the other.

Dr Sandra Iuliano-Burns, a bone researcher from the University of Melbourne said it was known adequate dietary calcium and exercise both assist bone health independently.  'However research has shown when they are combined, the effect on bone density is much greater', Ms Iuliano-Burns said.

The bones we build in childhood and teenage years need to last us a life time - it makes sense to do everything we can to make them as strong as possible and prevent osteoporosis later in life.

Dairy Australia Dietitian, Glenys Zucco said for our bones to benefit most from exercise, we need to be  consuming our recommended daily intake of calcium.  'Unfortunately, at least half of all Australians do not meet their recommended intake of calcium,' Ms Zucco said.

In Australia we have a wonderful supply of calcium-rich dairy foods. Just three serves of dairy foods every day will provide most people with the calcium they need to build and maintain strong bones. A serve of dairy food is equal to 1 cup (250ml) milk, 1 tub (200g) yogurt or 2 slices (40g) cheese. The great news is dairy food is also the perfect partner for exercise and muscle strength. Milk naturally contains the right mix of nutrients muscles need for growth and recovery after exercise.

'Maintaining good muscle strength is important for bone health as well. Muscles provide support for bones and joints, which can be particularly important in older age to help prevent falls,' Ms Zucco said.  'When dairy foods and exercise join forces they really do make a make a great bone strengthening team.'

So what better way to team up your exercise and calcium intake this National Healthy Bones Week than with a 'Milkshake'? Enter the milkshake dance competition with some great bone building moves for your chance to win some fantastic prizes. Visit www.healthybones.com.au for how to enter and see the latest entries on the Dairy Australia YouTube Channel.

National Healthy Bones Week Activities

Established by Dairy Australia in 1994, National Healthy Bones Week is a health promotion initiative which aims to educate Australians about the importance of calcium-rich foods, such as dairy, for building and maintaining strong healthy bones to help prevent the development of osteoporosis later in life.

To assist Australians learn more about how they can help their bones during National Healthy Bones Week, here are some of the activities and resources which will be available:

Milkshake dance: A fun dance routine has been developed to encourage bone building exercises along with consuming adequate dairy foods. Groups of all ages are being invited to send in a video of their 'milkshake dance' for great prizes to be won. Entries will be posted on the NHBW website and Dairy Australia YouTube Channel.

Healthy bones shake give-away: During NHBW Dairy Australia will host free milkshake giveaways at locations in across Australia. Check the NHBW website for venues.

Resources: Resources will be available online from the NHBW website. There will be tips and information on ways to improve and maintain bone health, delicious milkshakes, other calcium-rich recipes and calcium meal planners for all age groups. Great competitions will be open to enter and resources for schools will also be on offer.

Link: Healthy Bones