As women transition through perimenopause and menopause, declining estrogen levels accelerate bone loss — often silently — increasing the risk for osteopenia and osteoporosis. Women can lose up to 20% of their bone density in the 5 to 7 years after menopause. That’s why understanding how to protect your bones now isn’t just important — it’s urgent. And calcium, often overlooked or misunderstood, plays a foundational role in this conversation. In this episode, we explore the difference between getting calcium from food versus supplements, and which sources are most bioavailable and safe for women in midlife. We’ll talk about how to identify calcium-rich whole foods, when supplementation makes sense, and which types of calcium (like citrate and carbonate) are best absorbed and tolerated. We’ll also touch on how calcium works synergistically with nutrients like vitamin D, magnesium, and K2 to ensure it strengthens bones, not arteries. Whether you’ve already had a bone scan or are just getting started with prevention, this episode is here to help you build a strategy for strength and resilience that lasts. My two guests today are Adrienne Bitar, PhD, a food studies scholar at Cornell, and Dr. Jennifer Han, a clinical pharmacist, who created a calcium chew using real food ingredients, called SEEN Nutrition. After Jennifer was diagnosed with a rare form of osteoporosis, she and Adrienne created the first complete calcium chew, with local milk protein and the natural sweetness of dates. Medical Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or to make any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast. To learn more about SEEN Nutrition: Website: https://www.seennutrition.com/ IG: @thecalciumqueens FB: @calciumqueens To purchase and save 10%, use code JFWELLNESS10 at https://www.seennutrition.com/?aff=8 Stay connected to JFW: Watch on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jillfooswellness/videos Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillfooswellness/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillfooswellness Grab discounts on my favorite biohacking products: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/health-products Enjoy 20% savings and free shipping at Fullscript for your favorite supplements by leading brands: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/jillfooswellness Subscribe to the JFW newsletter at www.jillfooswellness.com and receive your FREE Guide on The Menopause Prevention Plan. Schedule your complimentary 30-minute Zoom consultation here: https://calendly.com/jillfooswellness/30-minute-zoom-consultations