According to research, in addition to age, a person’s lifestyle and diet also play a vital role in causing osteoporosis. 3 common drinks that have the ability to “drain” calcium from the body, but many people do not realize:
Alcohol
Excessive alcohol consumption can decline bone density, inhibit new bone formation and increase the risk of fractures, and slow down the process of bone recovery after fractures. To keep healthy bones, it is best not to consume this type of drink. In addition, alcohol also harms many other organs, so it is best to stay away from this drink.
Coffee
Coffee is a familiar drink, but if consumed too much, it can affect the absorption of calcium. Caffeine in coffee not only reduces calcium absorption in the intestines but also boosts calcium excretion, contributing to osteoporosis.
In addition, when using too much caffeine, muscles can twitch. Some people may also experience muscle aches while in the withdrawal phase. Therefore, you should only drink in reasonable doses, about 2-3 glasses/day to ensure bone and joint health.
Carbonated soft drinks
Endocrinologist Felicia Cosma, Professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia University in New York, thinks soft drinks to be one of the factors that accelerate the process of calcium loss, negatively affecting bone health. According to her, drinking a lot of carbonated soft drinks every week is linked to reduced bone density and an increased risk of fractures. Not only that, this type of water also boosts calcium excretion through urine.
Many studies also find that carbonated soft drinks consist of phosphoric acid, which unbalances the ratio of calcium and phosphorus in the body. To rebalance, the body is forced to withdraw calcium from the bones, thereby causing calcium deficiency. In addition, refined sugar in soft drinks also inhibits the ability to absorb calcium in the small intestine.
Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in September 2014 also appeared that the more carbonated soft drinks participants drank, the higher their risk of hip fractures. So if you want to protect your bones and joints, limit your intake of soft drinks, especially carbonated ones.