Move over, milk

If you've been a reader of mine for a while, you know how I feel about milk. Simply put, kids don't need it. It's loaded with sugar. It's not even their best source of calcium. (That honor goes to dark leafy greens.) And according to new research, a different mineral may be more essential to your child's bones, anyway. As part of this recent study, researchers recruited 63 healthy children between the ages of 4 and 8 years old. None of them were taking any multivitamins or minerals. All families filled out food diaries and measured portions so that researchers could accurately determine dietary calcium and magnesium intake. Researchers also assessed the kids' levels and absorption of these minerals--along with bone mineral content and density--over a three-day period. Results showed that magnesium consumption and absorption were both strong predictors of the kids' bone mass and density. But dietary calcium intake? Not so much. So do your kids a favor and dump their milk down the drain. Then replace it with a handful of magnesium-rich almonds. Believe me, their bones will be better off for it. Until next time, Dr. Fred