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Millions of people take calcium supplements conscientiously to reduce their risk of osteoporosis. Nearly everyone has assumed that supplemental calcium is safe, but a recent analysis in the BMJ has caused quite a stir. The investigators concluded that calcium pills (without vitamin D) can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. What’s the story on calcium?

In the future, your doctor might recommend an evening with friends just as she now suggests you get more exercise. Find out about the research on social support and health.

Explore the stories behind the health headlines.

Guests: Amy Lanou, PhD, is assistant professor of health and wellness for the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA). She is also senior nutrition scientist for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization. Her website is www.buildingbonevitality.com

The photo is of Dr. Lanou.

Bradley Layton is a graduate student in epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His paper was published in PLoS Medicine.

The podcast of this program will be available the Monday after the broadcast date. Podcasts can be downloaded for free for six weeks after the date of broadcast. After that time has passed, digital downloads are available for $2.99. CDs may be purchased at any time after broadcast for $9.99.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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