For years, doctors have told us to drink milk and take calcium supplements to improve bone health and prevent osteoporosis. The problem is they're wrong, according to Amy Lanou, UNC Asheville assistant professor of health and wellness.

Lanou and noted health writer Michael Castleman recently released a new book exploring this high-profile health concern. "Building Bone Vitality: A Revolutionary Diet Plan to Prevent Bone Loss and Reverse Osteoporosis" (McGraw Hill, June 2009) dispels the calcium myth and tells readers that eating low-acid foods like fruits and vegetables and taking daily walks are more effective than calcium in preventing bone loss.

Lanou will describe the plan featured in the book and discuss her bone health research at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, at UNC Asheville's Reuter Center. A book signing will follow. The event is free and open to the public.

Lanou is a frequently quoted local and national media source on health and nutrition. She holds a doctorate in human nutrition from Cornell University, and is the author of "Healthy Eating for Life for Children." In addition to teaching, Lanou serves as senior nutrition scientist for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

For more information, call UNC Asheville's News Services Office at 828/251-6526.