Paleo chef Pete Evans has caused controversy by telling an osteoporosis sufferer to stop eating dairy products.

Evans made the startling claim on his Facebook page when a follower asked him: “I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis. My doctor insists that medication is the only way, can paleo help?”

To which Evans responded: “I would strongly suggest removing dairy and eat the paleo way as calcium from dairy can remove calcium from your bones.

“Most doctors don’t know this information.”

Osteoporosis is a condition where a sufferer’s bones become brittle and fragile due to a deficiency of calcium, amongst other causes.

Usually, someone living with osteoporosis would be encouraged to consume calcium.

“Really! I’m obviously going to need to read some more about this,” the questioner responded.

Evans has a history of making unusual health claims, which support his paleo-diet mantra.

The paleo diet is based on foods thought to have been eaten by early humans. This consists mostly of meat, fish, vegetables and fruit.

It excludes cereal products, processed food and dairy.

Evans went on to write to the questioner: “Read one of my comments below on calcium – most doctors don’t know this information.”

The comment to which Evans referred to spoke about how other factors, like protein and “quality digestion” were important for bone health.

“Without taking the time to relax at mealtime and slowly enjoy your food you may not be making use of even the best quality menu,” Evans wrote.

“But calcium is the single most abundant mineral in the Western diet and tends to be over hyped and over consumed. And we don’t need dairy for that.”

He wrote that other foods, like dark green vegetables, had plenty of calcium in them.

Under the “prevention” tab on Osteoporosis Australia‘s website, calcium is listed as the first option to click.

“Dairy foods contain a high level of calcium which is easily absorbed,” it read.

“Calcium is essential for building and maintaining bone … calcium combines with other minerals to form hard crystals that give your bones strength and structure.

It then listed this recommendation: “Three to five serves of calcium rich food daily.”

This wasn’t the first time Evans has made a seemingly counterintuitive claim linked to his paleo beliefs.

In July he wrote that sunscreen was “poisonous”.

“[People] think that they are safe because they have covered themselves in poisonous chemicals which is a recipe for disaster as we are witnessing these days.”

This is how you need rank the veracity of your medical advice.

1.Doctor

2.paramedic

3.nurse

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9844. WebMD

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16333. Pete Evans — Stephen Carlyon (@StephenCarlyon) August 28, 2016

In March 2015, publisher Pan Macmillan dumped the release of Evans’ co-authored paleo baby cook book Bubba Yum Yum: The Paleo Way.

The main concern in the book was a breast milk substitute bone broth recipe, slammed as “dangerous” by health experts.