Cola may be a refreshing drink, especially during summer. It could also be a good partner to popcorn while watching a movie. More people prefer colas than milk nowadays, or worse, they substitute water with cola! But it is not a secret that cola puts your health at risk. Cola has been linked to a number of health problems such as diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay. But not only that! Did you know that it could also put you at risk for osteoporosis?
There are several ways how cola could be damaging your bones.
- People who drink too much cola tend to forget the benefits of drinking more nutritious drinks such as milk or freshly squeezed fruits. Because of this, they do not get enough calcium and vitamin D in their diets, which are necessary for a better bone health.
- The caffeine content of cola. Since caffeine is a diuretic, it increases the times that we need to pee (too much information, but it is important), and since urine contains calcium, the more we take caffeine, the more we pee, and the more calcium we lose.
- The phosphoric acid content of colas. inking too much cola can cause a phosphoric acid imbalance. What does it have to do with your bones? Phosphoric acid imbalance can cause your body to take calcium from your bones which can weaken them.
Osteoporosis is a type of bone disease that makes bones thinner, more brittle, thus, more at risk of fracture. We don’t want that, do we?
Brittle bones, bone loss, osteoporosis… They’re all considered nightmares. Nobody wants these problems. So one might ask, “But would diet cola put me at the same risk?”
The answer is yes. Diet or not, or whether your cola has less sugar or zero sugar, it still contains caffeine and phosphoric acid. You may be able to keep the size of your waistline by drinking “diet” cola but it will still put your bone health at risk.
The more important question here is this: How can one cut their cravings for this awesome, yet unhealthy drink?
Here are some suggestions:
- Start gradually. If you have been drinking cola since you discovered it and have been drinking it more than once a day, going cold turkey on it could be somewhat torturous. You could go from drinking a can or a glass a day and gradually cut down to three times a week, to twice a week until you can eventually go without it.
- People have different reasons
infor drinking colas, well, aside from the fact that they love them. Some need them for the caffeine to stay awake. Some need it because these drinks are undeniably refreshing. If these are your reasons, try replacing them with other drinks. If you need caffeine, try drinking tea. If you need to feel refreshed during a hot weather or after a long run, try drinking cold water (which is, by the way, the best thing you can do for your body) or fresh fruit juices. - Think about the consequences. Having healthy bones is very important. Imagine yourself running after your dog and suddenly, you fall. Are your bones strong enough? If they’re not, you could fracture a bone, say, your ankle. So, not only did you injure yourself, you have also lost your dog. Oops?
To keep your bones healthy, keep your cola consumption at the minimum and make sure you are getting enough, if not plenty, of calcium from sources such as milk, yogurt, cheese, soy milk, soy beans, kale, broccoli, almonds… The list could go on.
Keeping your bones strong and healthy is important. So the next time you crave a drink, think about what your health and what you’re putting at risk. You will be doing yourself a lot of favour by cutting down on a cause of osteoporosis: Cola.
References:
Cola bad for the bones?
Cola may weaken bones
How to Beat Your Craving for Soda
Diet Soda Connection to Bone Density Loss
List of Foods with Calcium and Vitamin D
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