Some foods can hurt bone health
DEAR DOCTOR K: I am at increased risk for osteoporosis. Are there any foods or drinks I should avoid?
DEAR READER: Osteoporosis is a bone-weakening condition that increases your risk of fractures. Though your bones may seem unchanging, they are continuously being broken down and rebuilt. Osteoporosis occurs when more bone is broken down than is rebuilt.
Osteoporosis is most common in postmenopausal women, but other people are also at risk. These include people with thyroid problems or eating disorders, and those who have used oral corticosteroid medications on a long-term basis.
Some foods you eat can make you more likely to get osteoporosis.
There is evidence that several common food substances, taken in large amounts, may be harmful to bone health. I wouldn’t call the evidence airtight, but it is strong enough that I’d advise anyone at risk for osteoporosis to limit their intake of these substances:
Caffeine: Drinking four or more cups of coffee a day can increase your risk of breaking a bone. The evidence is pretty strong.
Protein: High levels of protein, particularly protein from animal sources, may cause bones to lose calcium. This issue is still being investigated, and there is no consensus on how much, if any, protein may be harmful to bones. For now, I wouldn’t worry about protein harming your bones. Of course, as we’ve said here many times, the saturated fats that come with animal protein are not heart-healthy, so they should be eaten sparingly.
Alcohol: People who consume more than two drinks per day may be at moderately higher risk of low bone density and fractures, compared with nondrinkers. On the other hand, some studies have found that moderate drinkers – men who have one or two drinks per day, and women who have one drink per day – have greater bone mass.
Vitamin A: Several studies have found a link between high vitamin A intake and fractures. Try not to exceed the current recommended daily amount of vitamin A, which is 700 micrograms for women and 900 mcg for men.