Strengthen bones for Osteoporosis Awareness Month

May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month, and while you may have heard that African Americans have stronger bones than their counterparts of other races, this does not mean that you are not at risk.

Quite the contrary, actually, since many African American women develop the disease due to insufficient calcium intake - possibly because many people with dark skin are lactose intolerant - and vitamin D deficiency, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Moreover, the government agency reports that osteoporosis is often a condition that is not adequately treated or recognized in African American women, even though they have a much higher rate of mortality due to hip fracture than Caucasians.

Since sickle cell anemia and lupus are more prevalent among black women, this also puts them at a higher risk of the bone-weakening disease.

BET.com offered some dairy-free suggestions for African American women who want to ensure their bone strength. Foods like dark, leafy greens, fortified cereals, oranges, almonds and Brazil nuts all contain calcium, and many women should consider supplements.

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, so also be sure to consume foods that contain the nutrient, like fish, liver and eggs.

Eating a balanced diet has the power to promote a healthy body inside and out - from strong bones to glowing African American skin.  

First Lady gives moving speech at Spelman College

Michelle Obama recently spoke at the Spelman College commencement, offering her advice to the recent graduates of one of the country's oldest academic establishments that has educated some of the most successful African American women in the world.

The First Lady told her audience that it is their duty to do the best that they can, and to encourage others to do the same.

“It is vitally important that you all rise to the highest ranks of every industry and every profession,” Obama said, quoted by The Atlanta Journal - Constitution. “As you climb those career ladders, just remember to reach down and pull others up behind you.”

Much like her husband, Obama never fails to charm. From her words of wisdom to her glowing ethnic skin, she's become an icon of American beauty.

The First Lady's makeup artist, Igrid Grimes-Myles, told ELLE magazine that much of what keeps Obama looking fresh is healthy lifestyle choices, like exercising and getting plenty of water.

They key to flawless African American skin involves more than great skin care products, as it starts from the inside with proper nutrition and optimal physical health.  

Foods that are good for your face

It's relatively well-known that eating right and drinking plenty of water is a great way to get glowing skin. However, did you know that some of the things that you may be used to tossing in a salad can be great topical remedies for the skin?

For instance, soy is packed with protein, healthy fats and antioxidants. NaturalHealthRemedies.org reports that it can also help skin appear smoother and perhaps even reduce wrinkles. There's no need to blend leftover edamame into a face mask, however, since many skin care products today contain soy extract.

If applying foods directly to your face does sound appealing, then Oprah.com has some good news. The website reports that a blend of avocado, honey and plain yogurt makes for an ultra-moisturizing mask.

Individuals who are looking for a more exfoliating treatment may want to try Oprah's oatmeal face scrub. In a food processor or coffee bean grinder, chop 16 whole raw almonds together with about 4 tablespoons of oats until the mixture is consistent. Combine the nuts and oats with 4 tablespoons of honey and 4 teaspoons of plain yogurt or water, enough to form a paste. Apply this to your face and leave on for about 10 minutes, following up with a moisturizer.  

Zoe Saldana getting dramatic this year

While actress Zoe Saldana is well-known for her roles in science fiction films like Avatar and 2009's Star Trek, this year she'll release action flick Colombiana and begin filming on an adaptation of David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas titled The Words.

Colombiana features the mocha-skinned beauty as an assassin and a vigilante who avenges her parents' untimely death. The trailer has been released online, and the film is set to hit theaters this September.

It's not yet known what role Saldana will play in The Words, but she will co-star along Susan Sarandon, Dennis Quaid and Bradley Cooper in the movie about plagiarism and destiny. Filming begins this fall.

New movies mean premieres and red carpet fashion, especially for Saldana who has been making quite the name for herself as a style maven. At the recent Met Gala, the Dominican starlet turned heads in a simple, strapless canary yellow gown that perfectly accented her ethnic skin tone. She polished off her look with a smoky eye, pink blush and a neutral shimmery lip gloss.