Mimi, that tidbit from the 50s was interesting. I flunked my iron test a few weeks back (hemoglobin 11, so not a horrible flunk, but a flunk nonetheless) and the doc thinks it's exercise induced anemia. I'd never heard of it before (from the lit she gave me, about running and XC skiing, both of which I do a lot of: "The forces exerted on the red blood cells in the capillaries of the feet may rupture the blood cells and lead to anemia." Whoda thunk it??) She gave me some stuff to read and put me on a liquid iron supplement.

I also had a bone density wake up call a few years back...led me to drastically change my eating habits. I recently started using those calcium chews at the suggestion of my doc (fruit flavored, of course). A little sugar in them but not bad. I also lift weights and run, so I'm doing what I can.