| Bones define the very structure of your body. These | | | | we must first understand how healthy bone is |
| constructs of protein, minerals, and collagen allow you | | | | created and maintained. Bone cells called osteoblasts |
| to stand, walk, and resist gravity. They also serve as | | | | are responsible for generating new bone |
| the body's principal storehouse for essential minerals. | | | | (osteogenesis) in an ongoing process known as |
| Most importantly, bones are living tissues that are | | | | remodeling. As the osteoblasts are doing their job, |
| helped or hurt by our everyday lifestyle choices as | | | | other bone cells called osteoclasts are doing theirs -- |
| well as environmental factors. When bone health fails, | | | | resorbing old bone to make way for new, healthy |
| the body fails, and the result can be increased | | | | bone. Obviously the dance between osteoblasts and |
| fracture risk from the too-familiar condition known as | | | | osteoclasts must be a carefully choreographed one. |
| osteoporosis. | | | | Excessive resorption, or insufficient new growth, will |
| To understand how bone health can be undermined, | | | | result in brittle bones. |