For all the plusses adoption presents, there are also minuses, one of which is having had no control of what went on with, or into, our kids before they came to us.

With studies now proving that much of what gives kids strong bones comes from the time before they were born, and very little chance for adoptive parents to get full details on every aspect of maternal health and nutrition during pregnancy, it's important we do what we can in case there are deficiencies that need to be addressed.

As mentioned in the previous post a lack of proper nutrients during gestation will have greater impact on our kids' bone density and odds of suffering osteoporosis than anything we can do for them, making it even more vital that we err on the side of caution.

Since bone is living tissue that is constantly changing, doing the right thing by our children's bones will make a lifelong difference. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, a division of the National Institutes of Health, illustrates the point well then they say, "You can think of bone as a bank account, where (with your help) your kids make “deposits” and “withdrawals” of bone tissue."

Up to 90% of peak bone mass is in place by the age of 18 in girls and 20 in boys, so it's up until that time that it makes sense to 'invest' in your kids' 'bone bank' ... much like saving for college, putting a bit in every day will go far to assure there's enough when it's needed.

If there's not, osteoporosis, the disease of fragile bones that break so easily that someone with significant bone loss can suffer a fracture from a sneeze, can occur at any age.

So, what can parents do to give our kids the bones they'll need to get through life standing straight and tall? Like most advice that goes with health, it's down to proper diet and good exercise.

Bones need calcium and vitamin D. The vitamin D comes from sunlight, egg yokes and fortified milk. The calcium is in milk and milk products like cheese, yogurt and ice cream, in dark green, leafy veggies (kale and bok choy are good), broccoli, almonds, and cereals, breads and juices that have had calcium added.

If your kids are lactose intolerant, as many African, Asian and Hispanic kids may be, even more reason to go with the calcium-fortified orange juice and breakfast cereals.

Supplements can also help, but in doses less than 500 mg at a time, as more interferes with absorption.

Like muscles, bones need to be used to stay strong and get stronger. Walking, running, sports like basketball, soccer and tennis, are all good for building bone. Sitting in front of the TV or the computer now won't help keep your kids from breaking a hip when they're sixty, so get them up a moving.

Somethings take a toll on bones and need to be attended to. Smoking, for example, eats bone. Some medications can also have negative effects.

Corticosteroids, often prescribed for asthma, can make it difficult for the body to absorb calcium from food and increase calcium loss from the kidneys.

Disorders, Medications, and Behaviors That May Affect Peak Bone Mass

Primary Disorders
Juvenile arthritis
Diabetes mellitus
Osteogenesis imperfecta
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism
Cushing’s syndrome
Malabsorption syndromes
Anorexia nervosa
Kidney disease
Liver disease

Medications
Anticonvulsants (e.g., for epilepsy)
Corticosteroids (e.g., for rheumatoid arthritis, asthma)
Immunosuppressive agents (e.g., for cancer)

Behaviors
Prolonged inactivity or immobility
Inadequate nutrition (especially calcium, vitamin D)
Excessive exercise leading to amenorrhea
Smoking
Alcohol abuse

So, eat right, exercise, and do it as a family. Your kids aren't going to stock the fridge with broccoli and string cheese, but you can, thereby making it easy for everyone to make daily, healthy deposits to the bone bank.