Caffeine leaches calcium from bones, sapping their strength. "You lose about 6 milligrams of calcium for every 100 milligrams of caffeine ingested," Massey says. That's not as much of a loss as salt, but it's worrisome, nonetheless.
Caffeine may very modestly reduce calcium absorption (by about 4 mg of calcium per cup of coffee), but this can be offset completely by adding 1–2 tablespoons of milk to your coffee.
Previous research has shown that the more caffeine a person drinks, the more calcium is excreted from the body. And since the main mineral component in bone is calcium, he said this could potentially create a calcium imbalance and inhibit bone formation.
The in vitro effects of caffeine on cells involved in bone metabolism suggest that caffeine intake may promote osteoporosis, and some but not all clinical studies support a modest adverse caffeine impact.
Caffeine does produce a small increase in calcium excretion and a very small decrease in calcium absorption. But the body compensates by decreasing calcium excretion 2 to 3 hours later, so the net effect on calcium is unchanged. Studies show that in moderation, drinking coffee has no effect on bone health.
High levels of caffeine intake may increase your risk of osteoporosis. About 400 mg a day or less probably won't cause bone loss (or other health problems), while 800 mg or more is considered the threshold for osteoporosis risk.
Low calcium intake is clearly linked to skeletal fragility, and it is likely that a high caffeine intake is often a marker for a low calcium intake. The negative effect of caffeine on calcium absorption is small enough to be fully offset by as little as 1-2 tablespoons of milk.
Salty Foods
Eating foods that have a lot of salt (sodium) causes your body to lose calcium and can lead to bone loss. Try to limit the amount of processed foods, canned foods and salt added to the foods you eat each day. To learn if a food is high in sodium, look at the Nutrition Facts label.
Certain compounds in plants (e.g., oxalic acid, phytic acid) can decrease calcium absorption by forming indigestible salts with calcium, decreasing its absorption [3]. As a result, absorption of calcium is only 5% for spinach, whereas it is much higher, at 27%, for milk [3].
Dairy products, such as cheese, milk and yogurt. Dark green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and kale. Fish with edible soft bones, such as sardines and canned salmon. Calcium-fortified foods and beverages, such as soy products, cereal and fruit juices, and milk substitutes.
Drinking Coffee – Drinking coffee lowers your calcium and magnesium levels. Many people can be dependent on drinking coffee, and that is understandable, seeing its wide range of benefits from keeping us awake, and raising our body's levels of antioxidants.
In addition to managing your osteoporosis, it's important to avoid activities that may cause a fracture. Such activities include movements that involve twisting your spine, like swinging a golf club, or bending forward from the waist, like sit ups and toe touches.
Carbohydrates may enhance calcium absorption while coffee and cigarette smoke may impede it. The best way to get calcium is through food. Many foods are fortified with calcium. But some people may need to take calcium supplements to get the recommended amount.
Caffeine leaches calcium from bones, sapping their strength. "You lose about 6 milligrams of calcium for every 100 milligrams of caffeine ingested," Massey says.
Caffeine, drugs like anticoagulants, cortisone, and thyroxine reduce calcium absorption in the body. Lack of exercise and vitamin d deficiency leads to decrease in calcium absorption.
The principal function of vitamin D in calcium homeostasis is to increase calcium absorption from the intestine.
Bananas do not contain much calcium, but they are rich in FOS, that improve gut microbioma and so calcium absorption.
The calcium level in blood can be moderately low without causing any symptoms. If levels of calcium are low for long periods, people may develop dry scaly skin, brittle nails, and coarse hair. Muscle cramps involving the back and legs are common.
It's best to space out coffee from calcium-containing foods by at least 30 minutes. Coffee interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium, so if you have coffee close to a calcium-rich smoothie, you'll lose some of the benefits." More on that here.
Beverages with extra calcium
Great, calcium-rich beverages include: Fortified milk-alternatives like almond or soy milk. Calcium-fortified orange juice – check the label to ensure it the fortification includes calcium (and be careful how much you drink as it is acidic and can eat away at enamel)
Drinking 1 -2 cups of black coffee everyday reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases including stroke. Black coffee also reduces the inflammation level in the body. Black coffee is the powerhouse of antioxidants. Black coffee contains Vitamin B2, B3, B5, Manganese, potassium and magnesium.
Caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, which leads to an increase in urination. As a result, water-soluble vitamins, such as B-vitamins and vitamin C can be depleted due to fluid loss. Research also demonstrated that the higher the level of caffeine, the more it interfered with vitamin D absorption.
Beverage options that are better choices include calcium and vitamin D-fortified juices, plain or chocolate milk, or flavored waters. While caffeine is widely believed to have some health benefits, it is also proven to deplete calcium from bones.