A recent study reports that drinking cola products may be bad for your bones. According to Carol Koprowski, Ph.D., R.D., assistant professor of research in preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the study found that drinking cola beverages on a regular basis was associated with lower bone density—which can lead to osteoporosis, or thinning of the bones—in women, but not men. However, Koprowski warns that these findings should be taken with a grain of salt. “The reason for this bone loss is not clear and more studies are needed to confirm these findings,” she says. In the meantime, Koprowski suggests increasing calcium intake through diet and engaging in weight-bearing exercises to help maintain good bone health.
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