Cola Beverages - Osteoporosis
Cola Beverages affect lower bone mineral density.
A study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that women who are frequent cola drinkers have lower bone mineral density than women who do not drink cola. As a part of their study, researchers collected data from dietary questionnaires completed by 2,500 people who took part in an osteoporosis study in the United States. They also measured each participant’s bone mineral density at the spine and three different hip locations. Test results indicated that women who drank four or more colas each week had lower bone mineral density in all their hip locations (not the spine). In a new study, diet cola drinkers gained weight faster and became obese in 56% of the study group than those who were regular cola drinkers. My experience has been that overweight people order diet cola and then order a combination platter of high-fat foods.
Smoking, alcohol consumption, and calcium intake did not seem to factor into this association. Men appeared to be unaffected by cola consumption.
Cola beverages seem to have a gender bias which manifests itself in women’s bones. Not very nice, considering that the damage cola may cause can go silently—in many cases, for years—in unsuspecting females. That is, until researchers at Tufts University in Boston recently discovered a link between female regular cola drinkers and their risk of developing osteoporosis.
The problem with low bone mineral density is that it can lead to osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. Osteoporosis is often called a "silent disease" because bone loss occurs painlessly, without symptoms, until a bone breaks. Women are four times more likely to develop this disease than men.
While osteoporosis can affect any bone, fractures of the hip and spine are of special concern. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation a hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person’s ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability—or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain, and deformity.
How cola contributes to low bone mineral density and increased risk of osteoporosis in women has not yet been proven, but scientists suspect that phosphoric acid may be to blame. It is under suspicion because it’s an ingredient found in all cola—caffeinated, decaffeinated, regular, and diet—and it is not usually found in non-cola beverages. Other carbonated drinks that were not cola-based did not appear to affect bone density, the study found.
Despite the need for more research, experts involved in the study do advise female regular cola drinkers to limit their consumption of cola beverages. The National Osteoporosis Foundation also suggests the following measures you can take right now which can optimize bone health and help prevent osteoporosis.
*They are: Maintain a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.
*Regularly participate in weight-bearing and resistance-training exercises.
*Lead a healthy lifestyle, with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake.
*Talk to your health-care professional about bone health.
*Have bone density testing and take medication when appropriate.
My own dislike of cola beverages led me to fill a water bottle with fresh ice cubes and then pour a diet lemon-lime clear beverage over the ice. It is refreshing and healthy as a beverage for use during sports activities. In a restaurant setting, I prefer a whole lemon cut lengthwise into wedges over bottled water with a couple of cubes of ice.
The benefits of lemonade as a beverage (without sugar) are well documented and researched.
A study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that women who are frequent cola drinkers have lower bone mineral density than women who do not drink cola. As a part of their study, researchers collected data from dietary questionnaires completed by 2,500 people who took part in an osteoporosis study in the United States. They also measured each participant’s bone mineral density at the spine and three different hip locations. Test results indicated that women who drank four or more colas each week had lower bone mineral density in all their hip locations (not the spine). In a new study, diet cola drinkers gained weight faster and became obese in 56% of the study group than those who were regular cola drinkers. My experience has been that overweight people order diet cola and then order a combination platter of high-fat foods.
Smoking, alcohol consumption, and calcium intake did not seem to factor into this association. Men appeared to be unaffected by cola consumption.
Cola beverages seem to have a gender bias which manifests itself in women’s bones. Not very nice, considering that the damage cola may cause can go silently—in many cases, for years—in unsuspecting females. That is, until researchers at Tufts University in Boston recently discovered a link between female regular cola drinkers and their risk of developing osteoporosis.
The problem with low bone mineral density is that it can lead to osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. Osteoporosis is often called a "silent disease" because bone loss occurs painlessly, without symptoms, until a bone breaks. Women are four times more likely to develop this disease than men.
While osteoporosis can affect any bone, fractures of the hip and spine are of special concern. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation a hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person’s ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability—or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain, and deformity.
How cola contributes to low bone mineral density and increased risk of osteoporosis in women has not yet been proven, but scientists suspect that phosphoric acid may be to blame. It is under suspicion because it’s an ingredient found in all cola—caffeinated, decaffeinated, regular, and diet—and it is not usually found in non-cola beverages. Other carbonated drinks that were not cola-based did not appear to affect bone density, the study found.
Despite the need for more research, experts involved in the study do advise female regular cola drinkers to limit their consumption of cola beverages. The National Osteoporosis Foundation also suggests the following measures you can take right now which can optimize bone health and help prevent osteoporosis.
*They are: Maintain a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.
*Regularly participate in weight-bearing and resistance-training exercises.
*Lead a healthy lifestyle, with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake.
*Talk to your health-care professional about bone health.
*Have bone density testing and take medication when appropriate.
My own dislike of cola beverages led me to fill a water bottle with fresh ice cubes and then pour a diet lemon-lime clear beverage over the ice. It is refreshing and healthy as a beverage for use during sports activities. In a restaurant setting, I prefer a whole lemon cut lengthwise into wedges over bottled water with a couple of cubes of ice.
The benefits of lemonade as a beverage (without sugar) are well documented and researched.
posted by Stan Kent at
1:04 PM
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