{"id":25118,"date":"2010-07-12T01:00:19","date_gmt":"2010-07-12T06:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dietsinreview.com\/diet_column\/?p=25118"},"modified":"2010-07-13T13:20:56","modified_gmt":"2010-07-13T18:20:56","slug":"the-connection-between-soda-and-bone-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dietsinreview.com\/diet_column\/07\/the-connection-between-soda-and-bone-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"The Connection Between Soda and Bone Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Attention all Diet Coke and Diet\u00a0Dr. Pepper<\/a> lovers: Soda has been linked to osteoporosis, a condition that is marked by bone loss and puts you at risk for fractures, splints and breaks.<\/p>\n

We all know by now that the sugar in soda is linked to a host of health conditions, from obesity to dental cavities. Now soda is earning demerits for its association with degrading the skeletal system.<\/p>\n

The problem though\u00a0is not with all sodas, but with the colas. So drinks like Sprite, 7-Up and Mountain Dew don’t appear to have the same bone-weakening effect as dark sodas do.<\/p>\n

Researchers at Tufts University found that women who regularly drank cola-based sodas (three or more a day) had almost\u00a0four\u00a0percent\u00a0lower bone mineral density in the hip, even when calcium and vitamin D intake were accounted for.<\/p>\n

So what exactly is in dark sodas that is\u00a0putting your bones at risk?<\/p>\n

Experts still don’t have enough conclusive data to point a finger at a singular ingredient, but a few are implicated. One for instance, is phosphoric acid, a mineral that is found in sodas that gives\u00a0the\u00a0beverage\u00a0its tangy flavor. A study in the journal General Dentistry found that soda consumption causes tooth enamel erosion. Part of the erosion is due to the presence of the phosphoric acid.<\/p>\n

Another likely culprit is\u00a0caffeine. It has been known for some time that caffeine has been linked to bone loss because it interferes with the absorption of calcium. In addition, as a stimulant, caffeine is a diuretic. As it flushes water from your system, it also flushes out calcium.<\/p>\n

Just this past week, actress Gwyneth Paltrow<\/a> publicly discussed her recent diagnosis of osteopenia, a condition in which bone\u00a0mineral\u00a0density is lower than normal. Osteopenia is considered a precursor to osteoporosis.<\/p>\n

While\u00a0Paltrow’s bone complications had more to do with her restrictive diet and weight, rather than soda consumption, her diagnosis sends a powerful educational message to women everywhere; namely, to take your bone health seriously.<\/p>\n

According to the experts at WebMD, start by adding a few of the following tips into your daily diet routine. While you don’t have to completely banish Diet Coke from your refrigerator, making small changes in what you drink can make a big impact on your health.<\/p>\n