It is a well-known fact that sweeteners in soft drinks can cause weight gain, but there could be more harmful substances lurking in your glass of cola.
If you suffer from osteoarthritis, weight gain can put extra stress on the joints and accelerate the irreversible damage caused.
But researchers at Harvard believe weight gain is just one of the harmful effects of soft drinks. They suggest that other ingredients in fizzy drinks can damage bone health.
Carbonic acid can potentially remove minerals from the blood, tissue and bones, while phosphoric acid can interfere with calcium absorbtion.
Sugars in soft drinks also feed the acid in your system. These acids increase the release of free radicals, molecules responsible for aging and tissue damage, adding stress to the cells.
In people with osteoarthritis, weakening of the bones can increase the amount of damage to the bones, caused by the erosion of cartilage.
Research found that the consumption of soft drinks is linked to bone fractures in teenage girls, although the consumption of soft drinks have more of an effect on men suffering from osteoarthritis than women.
The Harvard researchers looked at the knee joints of 2,149 osteoarthritis patients over a four year period, recording how often they drank non-diet soft drinks.
Taking into account obesity and other factors that contribute to knee osteoarthritis, the researchers found men who drank five or more soft drinks a week experienced a more rapid worsening of their condition compared to those who didn’t drink soft drinks.
Avoiding soft drinks could be a sensible step in controlling the severity of your arthritis. Steer clear of anything containing high levels of sugars and sweeteners; opt instead for a healthier option.
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