The United States ranks first among countries for soft drink consumption. Carbonated beverages have become a part of American culture. The average woman in her 20s drinks two 12 ounce sodas a day, teenage boys drink about two and half.
People who drink instead of milk or other dairy products likely will have lower calcium intakes. Low calcium intake contributes to osteoporosis, a disease leading to fragile and broken bones.
The large amounts of sugar, bubbles caused by carbon dioxide, and phosphoric acid that are found in soft drinks remove nutritious minerals from bones allowing the bones to become weak and increasing the risk for them to break.
This is done by the phosphoric acid disrupting the calcium-phosphorous ratio, which dissolves calcium from the bones. This can cause calcium loss in bones. The phosphorus acid then pulls the calcium from their storage warehouse – that is, their teeth and bones.
The result is osteoporosis – that is, loss of density of bones, back and disc trouble, pyorrhea and of course, decayed teeth. Once osteoporosis had developed, it is difficult to restore lost bone. Therefore, the best treatment for osteoporosis is to prevent it by achieving a high peak bone mass and slowing the rate of bone loss.
All soft drinks are made with a solution of phosphoric acid. This is in part what gives them their kick. Soft drinks are a major contributor to osteoporosis for those who drink them, as they are high in phosphate (phosphoric acid) and sugar.
The link between soft drink consumption and bone loss is going to be even more significant as children practically weaned on soft drinks reach adulthood.
Many people consume soft drinks instead of necessary beverages like milk, so their bodies are not receiving enough nutrients, especially calcium. By lowering bone mineral density it may be increasing osteoporosis risk.
This deficiency in calcium intake and increased consumption of soft drinks is a greater problem for women than for men. On average, women reported drinking five carbonated drinks a week, four of them colas. Calcium intake was lower for women who drank the most cola.
The discrepancy between genders is because men traditionally eat more and consume more milk than their female counter parts, so soft drinks do not have as profound of an effect on men.
Osteoporosis due to soft drinks consumption
