Most of us know exactly what food to consume in order to keep our bones strong and healthy. However, there are also foods that are bad for our bone and we should reduce the intake of them. Not only do these foods prevent our bone from absorbing calcium, they also increase the risk of us getting obese. Let’s take a look at some of the foods that compromises bone health and increase the risk of orthopaedic complications.
High sodium content foods
High sodium content foods simply mean salty food. With the fast pace lifestyle that most of us have nowadays, we want our meals to be fast and convenient. This is where all the instant foods like instant noodles and canned food comes in. Not only are these foods low in nutrition value, they are high in sodium content. Sodium causes calcium to be excreted out from the kidneys. One simple and healthy replacement is to use natural herbs while flavouring our food.
Sugary foods
People with a sweet tooth take note, you are at a high risk of poor bone health. Sugar is found in a lot of food and drinks nowadays and it is hard to avoid them. Excessive intake of sugar prevents proper absorption of calcium and reduces phosphorus levels in our body. Phosphorus is beneficial in helping the body absorb calcium. Instead of consuming foods that are high in sugar content, considering snacking on fruits such as cranberries and prunes which provides some sugary rush at a healthy level.
Cola drinks
Most of us are huge fans of cola drinks. However, cola drinks have bad effects on our bone health due to the addition of phosphoric acid in the drink. Phosphoric acid will inhibit the intake of calcium and weaken our intestines. If you are unable to stop your craving for a fizzy drink, you can consider adding soda water to freshly squeezed orange juice as a healthier alternative.
Caffeine
Caffeine is found in many drinks nowadays to provide the stimulant effect to keep u alert and awake. They can be found in coffee, tea, cola drinks and root beer. While small amounts of caffeine is beneficial, consuming too much of them is bad for our bones. Caffeine will “steal” calcium from the bones and reduce the bone density. Approximately 6 mg of calcium is lost for every 100 mg of caffeine we take in. So if you are unable to avoid your cuppa, opt for decaffeinated ones which are slightly better on the bones.
Many of the food and drinks that we consume on a daily basis are actually bad on our bones. There are many healthier alternatives to them and we should try to consume those instead for better health or risk having to consume medication for the rest of our lives.
