IF YOU have a regular regimen for your skin and hair, you should have one for your bones as well. And the easiest way to keep your bones healthy? Drink milk.

“As a kid, I grew up in an environment that’s active, and we drink a lot of milk at home. There was even a time I consume more milk than water,” said celebrity Charlene Gonzales.

The Binibining Pilipinas titleholder said she could not imagine not having the lifestyle she has sported since she was little. She’s into volleyball, basketball, badminton, dancing and wakeboarding, and she credits milk for her lithe body.

Gonzales is the new endorser of Anlene, a range of high-calcium milk that comes in different variants.

“I also give them to my kids and husband,” said Gonzales, wife of actor Aga Muhlach, and mother to twins Atasha and Andres, 7 years old.

Her twins are taller than kids their age, the proud mother said.

“Aga and I encourage them to go out and play. I make sure they eat healthy while they are young and I can still train them. We have brown rice at home and lots of fruits and vegetables. But I allow them to eat fast-food as well,” Gonzales said.

“The twins go to different schools because Aga and I want them to have their own identities.”

Bone-health awareness

Gonzales encourages women to have regular bone-density screening – the first step in detecting osteoporosis or thinning of the bone in the vertebrae and hip area mostly found in women.

Bone mass or bone density is the amount of bone in a person’s skeletal structure. It is accumulated from childhood, the higher the density, the stronger the bones.

Dr. Lailani Asis, president of the Osteoporosis Society of the Philippines, said while the disease could be cured, it could be prevented.

“We want to increase the awareness that pagkakuba (hunchback) is a disease, not a part of the aging process,” she said. “Osteoporosis builds up slowly over years of neglecting bone health before finally cracking. Another condition is osteopenia or slight thinning of the bone.”

Menopausal women, those with history of osteoporosis in the family and those with unhealthy lifestyle are particularly at risk. Asian women are prone to the disease as well, said De Asis, because their bones are smaller.

Anlene recently launched the “Listen to your Bones” public-awareness campaign. Bone health is like a bank, said De Asis, you have to invest for thicker bone density so that it won’t get brittle when you get older and stop producing estrogen.

“Milk, dairy and green leafy vegetables are a good source of calcium, but remember to have vitamin D through sun exposure or in tablet form because these are inseparable partners – one won’t work without the other,” De Asis said.

Calcium content in tablets and milk are the same, said De Asis. But milk has other nutrients that “push” the calcium in your bone.

“Regular milk is not enough. High-calcium milk is a complete bundle. It is better than tablets because it’s a natural source and it has other nutrients that facilitate calcium absorption,” added Hamish Reid, senior brand manager of Fonterra, makers of Anlene milk.

Beauty tip

October 20 is World Osteoporosis Day. The National Institute of Health Consensus Conference on Osteoporosis recommends 700-800 mg of calcium for women daily, which can be had in two glasses of Anlene milk.

“Milk is not just good for your bones, it’s good for the skin as well,” said Gonzales, statuesque at 5’9.” “I use Anlene cold-milk as compress on my face, too. Get a soft towel, dip it in milk, pat on your face, and rinse. It’s a natural moisturizer.”