When it comes to maintaining healthy bones, most people think that consuming foods with calcium and working out will suffice. Yet the liquids we consume actually affect bone health much more than the average person would guess. Let’s take a look at what you should and should not drink for healthy bones.
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Avoid Drinks With Caffeine
Caffeine will certainly give you a jolt of energy, yet it isn’t exactly the best substance for your bones. A study performed in 2002 showed that those who consumed caffeine after fasting excreted significantly more calcium in their urine. Your bones need calcium to remain strong across posterity. Yet this does not mean you have to cut out the caffeine. Make an effort to consume caffeine in moderation or switch to decaf.
Avoid Drinks With Synthetic Sweeteners
Though just about everyone knows that sugar is bad for the body, most are not aware of just how harmful synthetic sweeteners like aspartame and saccharine really are. Such sweeteners are nothing more than synthesized chemicals that will hinder bone health. Do your bones a favor by avoiding diet colas and other drinks with synthetic sweeteners.
Skip the Sodas
Sodas melt away at the bones due to their considerable amount of caustic phosphoric acid. Technically, phosphorus has an inverse proportion to calcium, which means when you consume too much phosphorus (like phosphoric acid in sodas), calcium goes down, and you have less usable calcium to build strong bones. Switch to water with lemon wedges, which are also great for your pH and your bones will benefit.
Tea
A study performed in the UK has found that black tea improves bone density. The drink’s ability to boost bone density is primarily attributed to the presence of polyphenols. The downside to drinking tea is that it is typically brewed with water that contains fluoride. Fluoride harms the body in a number of ways and actually accumulates within the body’s bones as well as its joints. Studies conducted in the 1990s have linked an increased fluoride levels with a heightened risk of fractures.
Mind Your Water
Instead of drinking fluoride-laden water straight out of the tap, switch to distilled water or water that is filtered through reverse osmosis. But make sure you are supplementing with a good multi-mineral because reverse osmosis pulls all the minerals out, not just fluoride. Only buy bottled water that has been filtered by one of these methods. As noted above, fluoride appears to be harmful to bones.
Add Some Chicory to Your Hot Drinks
Chicory is all the rage for more than its tasty flavor. Chicory root is excellent for bone health. Get into the habit of drinking chicory root-based drinks, and you’ll do your bones a big favor.
Carlson Chiropractic strives to help all our patients learn to make healthy lifestyle choices. Want to learn more about nutrition and the foods your body prefers? Attend one of our Wellness Workshops soon. Click here to register!
