True or false: You must take calcium to have strong bones and prevent osteoporosis.

Definitely false, says Dr. Robert Thompson, M.D., a top bone expert and author of the best-selling book The Calcium Lie II. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” he tells Newsmax Health.

Calcium supplements can increase risks for heart disease, hypothyroidism, and obesity, says Dr. Thompson, who practices in Anchorage, Alaska.

Despite media hype, about 90 percent of us don’t need any extra dietary calcium, he says.

Many people believe bones are made of calcium, Dr. Thompson says.

“This false belief has led doctors and other healthcare professionals to recommend supplements, adding calcium to our foods, and drinking milk to keep bones strong.

“In fact, our bones are made of 12 different minerals. One of them is calcium, but a proper balance of all these minerals is essential.

“Osteoporosis is defined as a loss of minerals from the bones, not a loss of just calcium.”

Thompson says that if we take calcium supplements and eat calcium rich foods, we may build up excess calcium.

Coupled with increasing mineral deficiencies and imbalances, this can cause plaque in the arteries, kidney stones, gall stones, bone spurs, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, Type 2 diabetes, brain shrinkage, and even dementia.

“Before modern refrigeration, we used sea salt, which is rich in minerals, to preserve food,” said Dr. Thompson. “Once we had refrigeration, we started to use refined table salt to season our food, which is missing essential minerals.

“Simply switching to sea salt can help you improve your overall mineral intake, reverse damage done by excess calcium, and improve bone health,” he says.

Thompson cites the groundbreaking Nurses’ Health Study, which analyzed the risk factors of most chronic diseases, including osteoporosis, for 122,000 women over many years.

The study revealed that women with the highest calcium consumption from dairy products were actually more likely to have osteoporosis than women who drank less milk.

And a study published in the British Medical Journal in 2008 found that taking calcium supplements boosts risk of heart attacks in older women.

Instead of taking calcium supplements or consuming calcium-enriched foods, the most effective approach to preventing osteoporosis and increasing bone strength is to add sea salt and trace mineral supplementation to your diet, says Dr. Thompson.

“I thoroughly endorse and recommend having a hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) performed which will accurately assess the precise state of your mineral imbalances,” he said.

Several companies offer these tests, but one that Dr. Thompson recommends is sold by Trace Elements. It costs $125 and can be ordered on Web by going here.

Once your level of minerals is determined, you can custom design your mineral supplementation according to your needs.

Simple lifestyle changes can help restore the proper balance of minerals in our bodies.

“Taking five to six tablets of sea-salt derived trace minerals will replace the minerals we lose every day,” says Dr. Thompson.

“In addition, you should include weight-bearing exercise at every stage of your life. The more weight-bearing exercise you do, the lower your risk of osteoporosis.

“This means walking, running, cross-country skiing, tennis — anything that keeps you on your feet.

“And stop taking calcium unless you know you need it based on test results.”

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