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A recent blood test showed I was low on calcium. I drink a lot of milk and eat dairy foods so I don't understand how my calcium could be low. A friend said it was all the diet soda I drink. Can soda really decrease my calcium levels?
Soft drinks and other caffeinated beverages have been
linked to calcium loss in the body, however the exact
cause is not known. One possible link is that soft
drinks and other caffeinated beverages increase the
amount of urination (diuretics) which increases the loss
of calcium through the urine. Another possible cause is
that soft drinks contain phosphorus (or phosphoric acid)
which can remove calcium out of bones and teeth.
Soft drinks can also decrease the amount of
calcium-rich foods and beverages you consume therefore
reducing the amount of calcium absorbed.
Reference:
Schuster, Ellen
Answers to Your Questions about Calcium in the Diet, 1997, Oregon State University Extension.
Answered by Sarah Janicek, B.S., former Extension Associate, Nutritional Sciences Extension, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri Extension
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Last update: Friday, December 12, 2008
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