Research in the March, 2005 issue of the journal Pediatrics casts some doubt on the popular myth that milk is important for bone growth in children. The authors of the study analyzed 27 studies involving diet and bone health in children and young adults. Of those studies, only nine showed any relationship between calcium consumption and bone health. In those nine studies, the effect was not very significant. The authors point out that there is not much difference in bone health between a child who gets 500 mg. of calcium per day and one who gets 1200 mg. per day. They state that it is not necessary to be recommending a lot of dairy consumption for children and that children can get calcium from vegetable sources like dark green vegetables, nuts and seeds. Getting exercise and sunshine and eating fresh produce and whole grains is the way to insure healthy bones, not dairy consumption.