Teenagers who drink a lot of soda have now been documented as being more prone to bone fractures and osteoporosis than those who do not drink much soda pop.

A questionnaire was given to 460 girls in the 9th and 10th grades, asking them about their diet and exercise habits, along with any history of fractures.

The study results showed that girls who drank soft drinks were more than three times more likely to have a bone fracture. And physically active girls who drank Cola were nearly five times more likely to have had a bone fracture.

Studies have linked mineral loss before to Cola consumption, but finally some one thought to check out teenager's consumption and how it might affect them. The conclusion was that drinking soda pop causes osteoporosis in teenagers.

Between 40% to 60% of peak bone mass is built during the teenage years. Consumption of soft drinks affects both boys and girls. The acidic nature of the phosphoric acid in the drink causes the body to pull minerals such as calcium out of the bones to buffer the acid.

Many teens are very active in sports. Note how much more likely drinkers of the soft drinks were likely to have a bone fracture? Thirty to fifty percent!! Is your teenager in sports and drinking soft drinks? Colas?

I offer Nutritional work ups and mineral assays, using hair analysis. Teenagers I see in my practice today, more than ever before, are not eating many fruits and vegetables. These are needed to provide the minerals to build strong bones. Add to this the consumption of soda pop and these teenagers are setting themselves up for conditions such as osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones have become more porous and therefore more fragile and prone to breaking. It is thought to be a problem for older people, however this study shows that teenagers may be the newest group to suffer.

How does your teen score in soda consumption? How does (s)he score in eating plenty of green vegetables? Or other food choices such as yogurt, small amounts of cheese, Beans, Salmon and other things with high calcium/mineral content?

And how much water is (s)he drinking? Your teenager may not like water after drinking all the flavored and sugared soft drinks. However water consumption is vitally important for health and electical conductivity of the body.

As a health practioner, I suggest one quart of water for every 50 pounds of weight. So if your teenager weighs one hundred pounds, (s)he would need to drink two quarts of water a day. As an added incentive, tell them it will help clear up the bad skin problems.

Educate yourself and more importantly your teenager about the use of soft drinks and the consequences. Educate them about a better diet. This concept of how to eat better will last them a lifetime and build better health, wich they will notice more, the older they get.

Remember, Prevention is the best measure! Help them to understand the importance of eating their fruits and vegetables and drinking purified water. This way, they may avoid osteoporisis.
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Osteoporosis, a disease of bone loss leads to debilitating fractures, earlier known to affect only the older generations is now discovered to be a problem common to the kids as well.
Researches in the recent past have shown that children are drinking increasing amounts of sodas and fruit juices and less milk. While other foods contain calcium - the mineral so important to building strong bones - few deliver as much as a glass of milk.


alcium is essential for many purposes, including tooth formation and proper nerve and muscle functioning. Under normal circumstances, we maintain a tight range of calcium in our bloodstream no matter what our intake. Extra calcium is banked in bones, to be used when needed.

Few parents realize that children need to consume enough calcium while they are building bones to ensure a strong skeletal system. How much is enough?

1. Infants under 12 months old should be fed breast milk and need no special calcium supplementation.

2. Toddlers from 1 to 3 years old need 500 mg per day

3. Children from 4 to 8 years old need 800 mg per day

4. Youngsters through teens, 9 to 18 years old, need a hefty 1,300 mg per day.

5. An 8-ounce glass of milk provides about 300 mg, and the same amount of yogurt provides even more. Cheese packs 200 mg per ounce.

Mothers should think of creative ways to add milk while cooking. Toss spoonfuls of nonfat, powdered milk into tomato sauces, casseroles, mashed potatoes and pancake batter. Use milk instead of water when preparing oatmeal, bread or pizza dough, canned or packaged cream soups and sauces, and rice or pilaf dishes. Sprinkle cheese on steamed vegetables, or make a cheesy dipping sauce for fresh veggies sticks. Most kids enjoy a snack of a freshly blended drink, made with combinations of their favorite fruits mixed with yogurt, ice cream or milk.

Consider bringing back the traditional after-school or bedtime snack of cookies and milk. It's a wonderful calcium-rich experience that will build fond memories - and bones - as your children grow.
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