A primary care patient has borderline dietary calcium (600 mg/day) and very high sodium intake. Which counseling priority most directly addresses immediate risks and long-term bone health while applying the major/trace distinction?

• A. Tell the patient to eliminate all dairy immediately and rely solely on multivitamins to maintain bone health because supplements are always preferable to dietary modification for major minerals.
• B. Focus only on adding trace mineral supplements such as iodine and selenium because addressing trace minerals will automatically correct calcium and sodium imbalances and is thus the most efficient approach.
• C. Advise reducing sodium intake to lower cardiovascular risk and reduce urinary calcium loss, and simultaneously counsel on increasing calcium-rich foods to approach recommended intakes for bone health, because both major minerals interact and are high-priority targets.
• D. Recommend simply increasing water intake to dilute sodium without altering diet composition or calcium intake because dilution alone will fully mitigate both blood pressure and bone density risks.

Answer: (C)