All About YOU: Why Too Much Vitamin A Is Bad

Somersaulting down the sidewalk isn't the only thing that's bad for your skeleton. So is taking too much vitamin A.

Your body definitely needs some vitamin A, but more than 2,500 international units (IU) a day could hurt new bone formation.

Know Your Limits
You can't OD on food sources of vitamin A -- carrots, red peppers, sweet potatoes, and the like. (Find other vitamin A-rich foods with this online tool). Just make sure your vitamins and supplements don't put you over the 2,500 IU limit -- and choose supplements that contain the beta carotene form of vitamin A. Other things that are bad for your bones: cigarettes and excessive alcohol.

More Ways to Boost Your Bones
Keeping bones strong is easy! Just follow this advice:

• Beware the supermodel diet. What's that? High protein and diet cola. Here's why it's bad for bones.
• Ditch the cigs. Check out this butt-kicking plan from Mehmet Oz, MD, and Michael Roizen, MD.
• Add these exercises to your workout.
• Get plenty of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K. Here are some good food sources of K.

Know your osteoporosis risk, so you know what you're dealing with. Take this risk assessment right now!

YOU: Staying Young. Roizen, M. F., Oz, M. C., New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007.