The HIdden
Disease?
Everyone knows that the fats, sugars and salts in junk foods could lead to heart disease, diabetes or obesity but did you know it could also be a source of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease that is could be losing too much or make too little bone mass and density. This disease is a serious disease that could lead to dangerous health issues. People with osteoporosis must be very careful because their bones are very weak and can break from a minor fall or if osteoporosis is very serious you can break bones just from sneezing or bumping into furniture. Osteoporosis is a very serious disease. About 54 million Americans have osteoporosis. It may never have occurred to you that eating too much junk food could be a cause of osteoporosis. People who eat too much junk food are at risk of developing osteoporosis. Junk foods such as soda, potato chips or candies are filled with salts, sugars and fats. Consuming a diet high in salt is putting your body at risk for osteoporosis. A diet that consists of a high sodium intake increases the bodies calcium loss through urinary excretion. Every teaspoon of salt that is consumed results in 40 milligrams of calcium lost. Caffeine is also a major source of osteoporosis. In todays generation teenagers like yourselves drink tons of beverages that are high in caffeine. From coffee, to lattes, sodas caffeine is dangerous for your body. Every 100 milligrams of caffeine that you consume you lose about 6 milligram of calcium. Although this is not as deadly as salt intake this is still a very high number. In a large hot coffee there is around 244 milligrams of caffeine which means that you lose about 15 milligrams of calcium each time you drink one. In a large ice coffee in contains about 139 milligrams of calcium which means that you lose about 9 milligrams of calcium. If someone likes to get a coffee everyday that means 7 days a week you will lose about 105 milligrams of calcium drinking hot coffee and 63 milligrams drinking iced coffee. Fats and excess sugars are also a number one cause of osteoporosis. Fats create barriers within the body which prevents the bones from absorbing in calcium or the absorption of other nutrients in the body. In order to try to prevent osteoporosis try eating a little healthier. Try switching your energy drinks for something healthier like green tea, or switch your candies for fruits. Try eating more leafy greens which are dense and are filled with calcium, these vegetables include kale, romaine lettuce, spinach, broccoli and a variety of others. A diet with filled with less foods high in fats, sugars and salts would help decrease the risk for osteoporosis.