The healthy new way to protect your bones!

make your osteoporosis risk plunge 25%— without causing trouble, UCLA pros say. The reason? Calcium clogs arteries if it floods into your bloodstream in big bursts, so pairing a lower dose with bone-strengthening D-3 offers the best protection. Important:

Not

long ago, a shocking study hinted that while calcium supplements do help stop bone thinning, they can also raise heart disease risk 30%! Now experts know why and how best to keep your bones strong and your heart healthy.

● Pair calcium with D-3

Taking 700 mg. of calcium plus 1,000 IU of vitamin D-3 daily will

● Protect your bones with fish

Eating seafood twice a week will cut your osteoporosis risk 43%, reports the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition. The protein and healthy fats in seafood switch off osteoclasts, troublesome cells that break down bone tissue, explains study coauthor Tao Lei, PH.D.

● Prevent fractures with your favorite picnic foods Picnics, barbecues, potlucks . . . it’s a great time of year to enjoy coleslaw and potato salad— and your bones will thank you if you do! Eating three cups of cabbage and two cups of potatoes weekly is shown to cut fracture risk 55%, thanks to the potassium and

manganese in these veggies, which make bones more shockabsorbent. Also smart: Drinking four cups of green tea daily will keep your bones five years younger and stronger— and cut your fracture risk 20%—by blocking the buildup of damaging inflammation inside bones, shows Texas Tech research.

● Thicken bones with dried plums

A daily serving of any fruit slows bone loss—but to build bone, dried plums (aka prunes) are your best bet! In fact, a Florida State study found that eating just six of them daily revved bone density 5% in one year. Dried plums are brimming with boron, a mineral that kick-starts new bone growth.