Think drinking “diet” cola is a guilt-free pleasure? Think again when it comes to osteoporosis. Carbonated beverages and colas, including diet sodas, have been linked with increased bone fracture rates in teenage girls. While carbonated beverage consumption was associated with a 300% increased risk of fracture, cola beverages fared worse. They were associated with an almost 500% increased risk of fracture in physically active girls. Another study of 2500 women, whose average age was 60 years old, showed that the more cola consumed, including diet cola, the lower their bone mineral density. No such link was found in men. Unlike the previous study, only cola sodas were linked with lower bone density and not other carbonated drinks.  While some have speculated that soda’s link with osteoporosis  can be explained by a lower milk intake, this study did not show a higher bone density with milk consumption. Continue reading "Soda and Osteoporosis"