Your body will actually absorb more calcium from the foods you eat during puberty. The problem is most adolescents simply aren't eating enough calcium-rich foods to meet their needs. If you don't meet your calcium needs during this critical time when your bones are growing, you may end up with weaker bones that are more prone to fractures. Experts estimate that for every 5 percent increase in adolescent bone mass, there is a 40 percent decrease in the risk of bone fractures later in life. There is a limited time window to deposit calcium into bone.
Bones grow and incorporate calcium rapidly during teen years.
By the time you reach your early twenties, however, calcium is no longer added to bone. Worse yet, when you get a little older, you actually start losing calcium from your bones. Currently most teen girls are getting far less than the recommended 1300 milligrams of calcium per day. So, reach for foods rich in calcium now. There are dietary guidelines that can help you develop food habits that promote good health.