Watch out women

If your daily soda is caffeinated, you might be increasing your risk of bone mineral loss. A 2001 study in "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" linked high caffeine consumption to a greater loss of bone mineral density in elderly women. In the study, some women had a particular genetic variant that put them at greater risk for bone loss than others, so caffeine's effect on your bones may be dependent on your personal genetics.

In addition to caffeine, colas may contain other components that affect bone mineral loss. A 2006 study in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found an association between cola consumption in women and bone mineral loss even when the cola was decaffeinated. However, the men in the study did not experience bone mineral loss with either caffeinated or decaffeinated colas, so this link appears to occur only in women. The study authors theorize that phosphoric acid, which is found in colas but not in other carbonated beverages, may be to blame. Phosphoric acid may leach calcium from the bones over time. While the reasons for the gender disparity are unknown, the study authors suggest that a possible reason is that men have more calcium in their bones to start with, so they might have a natural buffer against the effects of phosphoric acid.