What can you do to improve bone health? To reduce the risk of osteoporosis, shoot for 1,000 mg calcium a day (if you are 50 or younger) or 1,200 mg (if you are over 50). So, if you do not eat three or four servings of low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, or calcium-fortified orange juice every day, take a 300 mg calcium supplement for each serving you miss. Vitamin D is also important for bone health. It helps you absorb calcium. Yet many people over 50 get too little vitamin D from sunshine or from their food. The Institute of Medicine recommends 200 IU a day for adults 50 and over, and 400 IU for people aged 50 to70. Calcium and Vitamin D are important for strong bones and can help prevent post-menopausal osteoporosis and hip fractures.