Will regular consumption of Coca-Cola cause osteoporosis?

It’s summer again, and some traditional jokes are making their debut.

For example, "A man drank three cans of Coke a day for ten years and relied on analgesics to survive with osteoporosis." The doctor's explanation is that "most carbonated drinks contain phosphoric acid, and excessive intake will affect the absorption of calcium and lead to osteoporosis."

There were reports before that a rotten girl from a certain country drank a lot of cola for a long time and died in her 20s. Is Coke really a deadly poison?

The Causes of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is nothing new. There are many factors that lead to osteoporosis, such as peak bone calcium (that is, the foundation of the body), Estrogen levels (especially in postmenopausal women), genetic factors, use of drugs (such as glucocorticoids), dietary calcium content, blood vitamin D levels, amount of exercise, bad habits such as smoking and alcohol abuse, organ diseases, etc. Therefore, when a person suffers from osteoporosis, it is often caused by "a leaky house and continuous rain all night". Coca-Cola is probably not the main cause.

But doubts about cola are understandable, because phosphorus and calcium in the diet have a seesaw-like relationship. Too much phosphorus will affect calcium absorption, and cola does contain a small amount of phosphoric acid and phosphate.

The main function of phosphate is to maintain stable pH and protect the process performance of caramel color. So here comes the question. The phosphorus content of a 330ml can (US measurement is 12oz) is about 41mg. Will this amount affect calcium absorption and lead to osteoporosis?

(The data comes from the US USDA, phosphorus is the bottom line)

WHO’s assessment results According to the World Health Organization’s assessment, the maximum daily tolerance of phosphorus for adults is It is 70 mg/kg of body weight, which includes natural phosphorus in food and phosphorus brought in by food additives, and of course the phosphate in cola.

This means that I (65 kg) can consume 4450 mg of phosphorus per day for the rest of my life without any health problems. According to the description in the news, drinking 3 cans of Coke a day is 123 mg of phosphorus, which is just drizzle compared to the daily tolerance of 4,450 mg!

Of course, WHO also emphasizes that this estimate is based on sufficient calcium in the diet. If it is a high-calcium diet, the tolerance to phosphorus will be higher, and vice versa.

Phosphorus in the diet

It should be pointed out that phosphorus is also an essential element for the human body. According to data from the Chinese Nutrition Society, the appropriate intake for adults is 1,000 mg, and the tolerable amount is 3500 mg (more conservative than WHO).

Since most foods contain phosphorus, few people will be deficient. For example, data from 2000 shows that the average daily intake of phosphorus for Chinese people is 1183 mg, which is about as much phosphorus as in a can of Coke. It only accounts for 3.5 of the daily intake, and drinking three cans only accounts for 10.4.

Excluding the normal dietary intake of phosphorus, you need to drink 80 cans of cola a day to reach the tolerated amount, and you need to continue drinking to risk developing problems. This classmate, can your stomach hold so much water? In general, the phosphates in Coke have little to do with osteoporosis.

Does Coke damage teeth? Does coke kill sperm?

Some people say that cola is bad for teeth, which is true, but it is not mainly because of phosphoric acid. Think about it, Shanxi people like to be jealous. Isn’t vinegar more sour than cola? In fact, the main cause of tooth decay is the sugar in cola, and phosphoric acid may play a supporting role.

Some people say that Coke kills sperm, which is just a joke. If you really want to be effective, do you still need birth control pills, condoms, and vaginal piercing? This statement comes from an in vitro experiment in which sperm was soaked in cola. However, if you replace cola with purified water or concentrated salt water, the sperm can also be killed (due to osmotic pressure).

It is not advisable to drink too much Coke, sugar-free is preferred

As the saying goes, "Everything is poisonous, the key is the dose." It is true that drinking less Coke is okay, but drinking more is harmful.

Like Buffett, 1/4 of his daily energy comes from cola. Don't imitate him. He doesn't have to worry about treatment when he's sick. What about you?

The biggest problem with Coke is that it contains a lot of sugar, because it requires about 10% of the sugar content to have a pleasant sweetness. Excessive energy intake leads to various chronic diseases. This is probably the main reason why people in foreign countries "drink coke to death".

There are now varieties that use sweeteners (such as cyclamate and aspartame) to replace sugar. I personally think it is better than traditional cola, but of course there are different opinions. Anyway, if you are thirsty, drinking plain water is your first choice. You can’t go wrong.

How to prevent osteoporosis?

If you want to avoid osteoporosis, the most reliable thing is to increase your dietary calcium intake, such as calcium-rich milk, tofu, etc. You can also buy calcium-fortified foods, such as high-calcium biscuits and high-calcium cereals (you can find them on the food label). You can also take some calcium supplements, such as calcium tablets, according to your doctor's advice.

In addition, it will be very good for you to get some sunshine (especially young female white-collar workers in first-tier cities) or supplement vitamin D, exercise more, and refuse tobacco and alcohol.

Strong insertion: Starting from June 1, 2015, smoking will be completely banned in indoor places in Beijing!

Again: What is a true fan?

Tsk, tsk, how many children have you brought up like this~