MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Nancy O'Dell, co-anchor of Access Hollywood, celebrity mom and author of the new parenting book Full of Life / Mom-to-Mom Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Pregnant, recognizes the importance of building and maintaining strong, healthy bones through a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. Along with milk and cheese, enjoying a creamy cup of yogurt such as Yoplait(R) - the only leading brand of yogurt containing calcium and vitamin D in every serving - is a good way to help children and adults get the recommended amount of these two important bone nutrients.

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"After my recent knee injury I recognize the importance of a proper diet and exercise to help me get back on my feet," said O'Dell. "My family and I eat healthy foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, to help build and maintain strong bones. Yoplait yogurt is a delicious and nutritious way to get both of these essential nutrients throughout the day."

As part of the program, O'Dell and Yoplait will provide personal diet and fitness advice featured on Yoplait's new Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Yoplait. The tips will demonstrate how O'Dell and her family build and maintain strong, healthy bodies.

Data reveals that adults are falling short on nutrients important for bone health, with 76 percent of the population not getting enough vitamin D and 72 percent not getting enough calcium in their daily diet.*,** These statistics reinforce the need for daily diets rich in calcium and vitamin D - vitamin D is naturally present in very few foods (i.e., cod liver oil, fatty fish like salmon and tuna, and in limited amounts in beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks). A report released in 2006 from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that eating dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt during childhood and adolescence may help build strong bones and reduce the risk of fractures and osteoporosis later in life.*** Calcium and vitamin D work together to build strong bones, with vitamin D aiding calcium absorption.

"Yoplait yogurt is the only leading brand of yogurt containing vitamin D and calcium in every serving. These nutrients are important for bone health," said Katherine Brooking, M.S., R.D., registered dietitian. "Based on recent research, it is clear we need to do a better job of incorporating both vitamin D and calcium into our own and our children's diets. Yoplait yogurt, specifically its Original and Light varieties, provides an excellent source of calcium for both adults and children. Yoplait offers a large variety of flavors to help the whole family meet their dairy, vitamin D and calcium needs."

    Product                      Serving Size    Vitamin D    Calcium
                                                  (% DV)      (% DV)

    Yoplait(R) Original
     99% Fat Free Fruit             6 oz            20          20

    Yoplait(R) Light
     Fruit Flavors                  6 oz            20          20

    Yoplait(R) Thick
     and Creamy                     6 oz            20          30

    Yoplait(R) Light Thick
     and Creamy Fruit Flavors       6 oz            20          20

    Yoplait(R)
     Whips!(TM) Flavors             4 oz            10          15

    Yoplait(R)
     Chocolate Whips!(TM)           4 oz            10          10

    Yoplait(R)
     Kids Yogurt                    4 oz            10          20

    Yoplait(R)
     YoPlus Yogurt                  4 oz            10          15

    Yoplait(R)
     FiberOne Yogurt                4 oz            15          10

About General Mills

One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in over 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Haagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had fiscal 2009 global net sales of US$15.9 billion, including the company's $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales. Visit www.generalmills.com.

* American Academy of Pediatrics, Clinical Report "Prevention of Rickets and Vitamin D Deficiency in Infants, Children and Adolescents," 2008

** National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2004

*** American Academy of Pediatrics, Optimizing bone health and calcium intakes of infants, children, and adolescents, Pediatrics. 2006

SOURCE General Mills; Yoplait

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