Healthy Bones

Bone is a living, growing tissue. Throughout your lifetime, old bone is removed (resorption) and new bone is added to the skeleton (formation). During childhood and teenage years, new bone is added faster than old bone is removed. As a result, bones become larger, heavier, and denser.

Bone formation continues at a pace faster than resorption until peak bone mass (maximum bone density and strength) is reached around age 30. After age 30, bone resorption slowly begins to exceed bone formation. Bone loss is most rapid in the first few years after menopause but persists into the postmenopausal years.

When the body doesn't get the proper amount of calcium from our diet into the bloodstream, the bones surrender calcium to maintain the amounts needed in the blood for other bodily functions. Increased amounts of phosphorus from sources such as carbonated beverages, fast foods, and preservatives can contribute to calcium deficiency by lowering available blood calcium.