Osteoporosis remedies always seem to have a catch. Drugs from Big Pharma can lead to fractures.

And now a new study says calcium can be a problem too.

It comes from Mark Bolland. He’s a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Medicine for the University of Auckland. He received the Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowship. And he’s published 10 peer-reviewed papers.

The study was published in the journal BMJ. Its objective: “to investigate whether calcium supplements increase the risk of cardiovascular events.”

Heart Risk of Calcium Outweighs Osteoporosis Benefits

Bolland examined 15 trials in a meta-analysis. They were all randomized trials of calcium supplements with a placebo. They had 100 or more participants. The participants were at least 40 years old. And the studies had run for over a year.

The study’s conclusion: “A reassessment of the role of calcium supplements in the management of osteoporosis is warranted.”

Why’s that? Because calcium supplements were associated with a higher risk of heart attack.

Calcium is a way to strengthen bones. But it’s not the way. Especially when you consider this risk. We’ve been told that “milk does a body good.” It actually does the opposite. You can read why here.

A Better Way to Strengthen Your Bones

There’s another way to boost bone density. It comes from an element in the earth’s crust. And it’s inside your body right now.

It’s magnesium. And unlike calcium, it can’t hurt you. What your body doesn’t use is filtered out in the kidneys. So it’s nearly impossible to overdose.

Dr. Kathryn Ryder graduated from Yale University School of Medicine. She was named one of the Best Doctors in America last year. She’s Acting Chief of Medical Service at the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

She did a study with colleagues at the University of Tennessee. It was on magnesium and bone mineral density. And it was published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society.

The objective: “To determine whether magnesium intake from supplemental and dietary sources is associated with bone mineral density (BMD) in older men and women.”

The conclusion: “Greater magnesium intake was significantly related to higher BMD.”

7 Food Sources of Magnesium

Magnesium is vital to all cells. But deficiency is common. And low levels have been associated with osteoporosis.

You get more by eating a healthy diet… Or by taking a supplement. But some magnesium supplements are better than others.

According to the National Institutes of Health: “The amount of elemental magnesium in a compound and its bioavailability influence the effectiveness of the magnesium supplement.”

Bioavailability refers to the amount of magnesium that can be absorbed by the body. And one study on several of these supplements found “relatively poor bioavailability of magnesium oxide.”

Magnesium oxide has a high level of magnesium. But your body can’t use it as much. So it makes no sense to take it. Magnesium chloride, lactate, and aspartate ranked higher. Those are the ones to go with. You can get a supplement at any health food store.

The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends 270-400 mg daily.

Dr. Andrew Weil thinks it’s better to get the magnesium you need through diet. “Eat magnesium-rich foods daily,” he says. “These include spinach, tofu, almonds, broccoli, and lentils. Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are also good sources of magnesium.”

So ditch the cow’s milk. Give almond milk a try. Drink plenty of water… it’s the drink that’s meant for us. And add some greens to your diet. It’s the new way to keep your bones strong.