Soda Today = Osteoporosis Tomorrow

Regular soda contains up to 11 teaspoons of sugar per can. The sugar causes your blood sugar to spike, which results in a release of insulin. Soda also contains phosphoric acid, and shortly after you take a drink, it hits your lower intestine and binds with magnesium, zinc and calcium. Instead of those minerals reaching your bones, you pass them out of your system when you urinate, leaving your body depleted. Diet and regular soda both contain high levels of phosphoric acid, so switching to the “healthier” variety isn't healthier after all.

The bone-depleting effect of soda might affect women and teens more than adult men, according to MedPage Today. Women who drink an average of six servings of soda per day for just six weeks could see a notable -- between 3 and 6 percent -- drop in their bone mineral density. The decrease in bone mineral density was lower with women who drank diet soda, but even diet versions still resulted in a notable decrease. Teenagers are at an even bigger risk when drinking soda. When nine of 10 teen girls and seven of 10 teen boys already aren't eating enough calcium, they can't afford to lose calcium to the phosphoric acid in soda. Teens whose bones don't get enough calcium have a higher risk of breaks, fractures and, later in life, osteoporosis.

 If you’re going to live a good long time, you’ll need healthy bones, so it’s best to choose teas, light juice blends, and flat spring water to quench your thirst.