Having osteoporosis increases your risk of fracturing a bone during a fall or everyday activities. Fractures most often occur in the wrist, spine and hips. A hip fracture can lead to a loss of independence and can be fatal for some patients. You can prevent complications by getting regular exercise and following a healthy diet. Part of a diet to manage osteoporosis is to limit your Diet Coke consumption.
Osteoporosis
Throughout life, your bones go through a constant process of breaking down and destroying old bone and laying new bone down in its place. Between the ages of 20 and 30, you reach your peak bone mass. After this point, bone is naturally broken down faster than new bone is laid down. If the bones break down too fast, they become frail and susceptible to fractures, and osteoporosis can occur. Being sedentary, eating a diet low in calcium and vitamin D, smoking, taking certain medications and consuming certain ingredients such as those found in soft drinks, can all raise your risk of osteoporosis, says the National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases website.
Caffeine
Getting adequate amounts of calcium in the diet is essential to both prevent and manage osteoporosis. Some types of Diet Coke contain caffeine, which interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium, and caffeine also causes calcium to be excreted through the urine. If caffeine intake is 450 to 1,120 mg per day and calcium intake through diet is less then 800 mg each day, the bones may not get the calcium they need, reports a 2001 study in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." The elderly may be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine and even as little as 300 mg or less of caffeine per day can affect the bones. Diet Coke can contain no caffeine or have up to 60 mg per can, so choose caffeine-free options or read the label to find products with the lowest levels of caffeine.
Phosphorous
Some types of Diet Coke also contain phosphoric acid, which can affect bone health. Like calcium, the bones need phosphorous to stay strong. However, drinking too much Coke with phosphoric acid, can cause phosphorous levels to climb too high. This may limit the amount of calcium the bones can absorb, which over time can lead to a weakening of the bones. To prevent complications, the National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that if you have osteoporosis or are at risk for the disease, you should have no more than five cola drinks a week.
Children and Diet Soda
The link between drinking diet soda and osteoporosis is a major concern for children and teenagers, as osteoporosis can occur at any age. When children are growing, it is essential they get enough calcium to reach peak bone mass. Not reaching peak bone mass increases the risk of developing osteoporosis during childhood, young adulthood or later in life. Teenagers may drink Diet Coke instead of calcium-rich beverages to maintain a low body weight, suggests the National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases website. Children and teens need to get between 1,000 and 1,300 mg of calcium every day and the best source is milk, dairy products and fortified foods.
References
- National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases; What is Bone?; May 2009
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Is Caffeine a Risk Factor for Bone Loss in the Elderly?; Linda K. Massey; November 2001
- National Osteoporosis Foundation: Can Soft Drinks Cause a Problem for My Bones?
- NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases; Kids and Their Bones: A Guide for Parents; January 2011
