Archive for June, 2010
Health Shines
Is it true that carbonated soft drinks can keep your body from absorbing the calcium it needs for healthy bones, causing osteoporosis and weal bones? Does drinking carbonated soft drinks hurt your bones?
No. Drinking carbonated soft drinks does not weaken your bones or cause osteoporosis. The main causes of poor bone health are not taking in enough calcium in your diet, changes in female hormones and a lack of weight bearing physical activity. Some people claim weak bones occur because too much phosphorus or too much caffeine in your system keeps your body from absorbing calcium. However, experts have reviewed these claims many times, and have concluded that they are not true.
Phosphorus is a mineral found widely in nature and is an essential nutrient in the diet for all living things. It plays an important role in energy metabolism in the body and is a major component of bones and teeth.
Compared to other dietary sources of phosphorus, soft drinks contribute about 2 percent of the total dietary phosphorus in diet. High protein foods like meats, cheeses, nuts and grains supply about 98 percent of dietary phosphorus.
