Exercise protects bones strength in older women, but black cohosh makes no difference.

The results of a year-long German clinical trial of 128 postmenopausal women discovered that women who exercise vigorously maintained bone density in their spines, and had a slight increase in density at the hip.

A subgroup of the exercisers who received black cohosh showed no benefit from the herbal supplement. Women who exercised lightly experienced declines in both measures of bone density.

PositiveTip: There is no substitute for regular, vigorous exercise for bone strength, including strength training.