Soft Drinks = Soft Bones

DRINKING THIS COULD LEAD TO.....

THIS!

Extract from "Keep A Lid On Fizz" in Today Newspaper, dated May 8 2007.

Researchers at Boston’s Tufts University found that drinking more than three cola soft drinks a day was related to having lower bone mineral density in the hip.
Dr Katherine L Tucker, a researcher involved in the study, said that the association found was a strong one: “It persisted even when we controlled for everything that we could think of that might influence risk, including calcium and Vitamin D intake, fruit and vegetable consumption, and physical activity.”
Low bone density leads to other ailments such as osteoporosis, later in life.
Defined as soft drinks that are coloured with caramel and that contain caffeine and sugar, cola beverages are best consumed in moderation as they also contain phosphoric acid.

Ms Lim Su Lin, chief dietician at the Dietetics Department of the National University Hospital, explained: “The ratio of calcium to phosphorous is important to maintain a good mineral balance in the bone. Regular exposure to phosphoric acid without exposure to calcium and other beneficial nutrients may affect the bone remodelling process and cause bone loss over time.”

According to Ms Lim, phosphoric acid latches onto dietary calcium in the gut, blocking calcium absorption in the process and a diet high in phosphorous may also result in calcium being pulled from the bones. The caffeine that is found in cola drinks further contributes to the problem because it acts as a diuretic that can cause calcium to be lost through one’s urine.

And not only does drinking too much cola beverages affect bone density, it impinges on one’s appetite as well. Ms Lim said: “Excessive consumption of cola drinks does disturb one’s appetite. The carbonated water causes the stomach to feel bloated with gas and the sugar fills a person up with empty calories. This may cause the body to compromise by eating less of the wholesome foods during mealtime and lead to dietary imbalance, inadequate nutrition and, in time, obesity.”
Cola drinks also contain as much as seven teaspoons of sugar, which could lead to hyperactivity in children, said Ms Lim: “The high amount of sugar coupled with caffeine in cola drinks, can cause restlessness, irritability and sleeplessness, especially in children.”

Another consequence of an over-consumption of cola drinks is that it might lead to weight gain, which increases one’s risk of contracting diabetes. Studies show that one extra can of soft drink a day gives a child as much as a 60 per cent greater chance of becoming obese.
Good alternatives include freshly squeezed fruit juice (high in vitamins), milk (good source of calcium) or Chinese green tea (rich in polyphenols).

According to Ms Lim, these should not replace the consumption of plain water, which should make up at least two-thirds of one’s liquid consumption.
Ms Lim advised: “It’s best to keep cola drinks to an occasional treat. Keep it to a minimum if possible. In my opinion, if you are drinking more than a can of cola drinks a day, it is considered too much, bearing in mind the empty calories you are taking in, the additives and the effect on your bones.