Too much protein and cereal grains could lead to a weakened skeleton in some people, especially the older generation.

According to a new study, those who enjoy an extra helping of steak or an inordinate amount of cereal may produce an excess of acid in their body. As people get older, it becomes harder for the body to excrete the acid.

In order to rectify the problem, the body relies on bone resorption, which is a process when bones are broken down to release minerals such as calcium and phosphates. One way to offset bone resorption is to add more alkali to one’s diet through fruits and vegetables.

"When fruits and vegetables are metabolized they add bicarbonate, an alkaline compound, to the body. Our study found that bicarbonate had a favorable effect on bone resorption and calcium excretion. This suggests that increasing the alkali content of the diet may attenuate bone loss in healthy older adults," said Dr. Dawson Hughes.

Past studies have shown the importance of fruits and vegetables to bone health. However this may be one of the only ones to focus on how a diet rich in protein and cereal grains could affect one’s skeleton strength.