Caffeine can deplete bone calcium, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Those who regularly drink soda, tea and coffee may need to take calcium supplements to prevent bone loss and suffer the consequences of various unhealthy bone conditions, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. The Nemours Foundation's Teens Health website recommends switching to decaffeinated products to help offset the side effects of caffeine and bone loss.
Caffeine and Bone Loss
Caffeine depletes bone mass, which leads to weak and brittle bones. As you age, your bones naturally lose some bone mass, but consuming caffeinated products can start the process of bone loss at an early age and help speed up the process, especially as you get older. You can lose quite a bit of bone mass if you regularly drink coffee, tea or soda and do not consume enough calcium.
Decaffeinated
Switching to a decaffeinated, or decaf, version of your favorite coffee, tea or soda can help stop the depletion of calcium in the bones. When products are decaffeinated, it means there is no caffeine in them, which means you do not have to worry about the substance depleting bone mass. Depending on how much caffeinated coffee, tea or soda that you consumed before may factor into how fast or how much decaf you should switch to. Cutting too much caffeine out of your daily habit can cause side effects so you may have to make a gradual change instead of switching all at once.
Side Effects
Abruptly cutting caffeine out of your diet or reducing your caffeine intake too fast can cause side effects. Your body can become dependent on caffeine and may experience jitters, anxiety, dizziness and trouble sleeping. Your body may become dependent on caffeine as a source of energy during the day since caffeine is a stimulant. Cutting too much out too fast can cause side effects such as nausea, fatigue, irritability and headaches.
Considerations
When making the switch from regular to decaf, mix 75 percent of your regular coffee with 25 percent decaf. If you do not experience any negative side effects from the difference, mix half of your regular coffee with half decaf to make a whole cup. It may take a bit of adjusting to get used to, but once you're ready, you can mix 25 percent of your regular coffee with 75 percent decaf and continue this until you're completely switched to decaffeinated coffee.
