Anita Bean BSc R Nutr is a registered nutritionist, as well as a best-selling author and health writer. Her practical style has made her one of the UK's most respected nutritionists. She has written 24 books on nutrition and fitness including The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition and Food For Fitness. Winner of three major achievement awards in nutrition, she writes a regular column for Good Housekeeping and contributes to several other monthly magazines. Anita is a member of the Nutrition Society and the Guild of Health Writers. A former British bodybuilding champion, yoga-devotee and mother of two daughters she is a strong advocate of an active lifestyle.

Eating well
It's easy to take your bones for granted. When they are strong and healthy, it's hard to imagine that everyday activities, such as walking and running, may one day cause you pain and discomfort due to osteoporosis. But osteoporosis, or porous bones, is not an old woman's disease. You can begin losing bone density as early as your mid twenties and thirties. One in five young women already have a condition called osteopenia (thinning bones) and its our lifestyle choices that could be causing the damage. Preventing osteoporosis is something to start working on as early as your twenties.

Edam is an excellent source of calcium and a good way of getting one of your three a day. I've put together a calcium guide with tips on how to get the best from your diet and ensure you're getting your required daily intake.