Curb those colas for stronger bones

With one in four women and one in six men estimated to suffer an osteoporotic fracture later in life, it’s no surprise that there’s quite a bit of research focusing on this major disease. When it comes to osteoporosis prevention, we all know that calcium counts. And these days research is targeting not only how to get enough calcium, but also how to maximise its absorption.

Build bones

Although most people think of osteoporosis as an elderly disease, its origins lie way back in early childhood. The amount of bone that is gained during growth, known as peak bone mass, is believed to be one of the most important determinants of future fracture risk — that’s why a healthy lifestyle is vital throughout childhood. Contrary to popular belief, bone is an active organ that undergoes constant change via the process of remodelling — resorption (breakdown of bone) and deposition of calcium into newly deposited bone (bone formation) — so daily calcium intake is vital throughout life. As well as getting enough dietary calcium, you also need to make sure that the calcium gets to your bones. Other important bone builders include an adequate amount of vitamin D and a strong regimen of weight bearing and strength training exercises.

Cola, the new calcium sapper

We know that there are several ways that calcium absorption can be affected, including the amount of calcium in a meal and presence of substances like phytates and oxalates. A high sodium (salt) diet can also cause increased urinary calcium loss, but more studies are needed to assess the detrimental effect on bone. Then there is the new research on cola drinks and brittle bones. The link between high soft drink consumption and poor bone health has been previously established. We know that people who drink a lot of soft drinks tend to have a low intake of milk and calcium, but that’s not the complete picture. It seems that cola drinks in particular contain a number of substances, namely caffeine, phosphoric acid and high fructose corn syrup, which can all potentially interfere with calcium absorption. Research has clearly shown that bone density dropped with increasing cola intake.