Building Strong Bones Is a Lifelong Project Preventing osteoporosis in old age should begin early. We build up our bone stores during childhood and young adulthood, reaching peak bone mass in our thirties. From that point forward, bone loss gradually begins. Bone is not static tissue. It is living, dynamic, and constantly renewed through a process called bone remodeling. Over roughly ten years, the adult skeleton is completely replaced in tiny sections. First, bone-resorbing cells called osteoclasts break down old bone; then bone-building cells called osteoblasts lay down new bone in its place. Sometime in our thirties, bone breakdown begins to outpace bone formation. That’s why the more bone we build early in life—through good nutrition and weight-bearing exercise—the better our odds of maintaining strong bones later on. But here’s the encouraging part: because bone is continually remodeled, improvement is possible at any age. Even people in their seventies and…