Question: In addition to calcium, is magnesium another mineral that is important for bone health?

Dr. Brownstein's Answer:

The media leads us to believe that we only need calcium for strong bones. In fact, you cannot have a strong skeleton without sufficient magnesium. It is just as important as calcium for several reasons, including:

1. Magnesium is an essential building block of our bodies and makes up close to 1 percent of our body weight.

2. More than 50 percent of magnesium is in our bones.

3. Magnesium is necessary for proper calcium absorption.

4. Higher magnesium intake is associated with greater bone mineral density.

5. Magnesium helps to neutralize an acid in our bodies, which would otherwise cause bone loss.

Although I recommend taking supplements, the best way to ensure an optimal magnesium level is to eat healthy food. A diet full of refined sugar, salt, oil, and flour is devitalized and guaranteed to be deficient in this vital mineral.

The best sources of magnesium include:

• Almonds, peanuts
• Avocado
• Green vegetables such as spinach and peas
• Halibut
• Lentils
• Long-grained brown rice
• Peanut butter
• Potato, baked with skin