As important as it is to know about the food items that strengthen your bones and help you manage symptoms of bone-related conditions, it is equally important to be aware of the foods that aggravate osteoporosis. Some foods can cause your bone health to erode over time by interfering with their ability to absorb calcium. Read this article to know more.

1. High-sodium food items
According to experts, eating excessive salt can inhibit your body from absorbing adequate calcium and causes calcium excretion through your kidneys. To ensure maximum bone health, you must limit your salt intake to less than 2,300 mg per day. A study published recently found that people who eat more salt are prone to osteoporosis, which weakens the bones.

2. Sugary treats
People with a sweet tooth often go overboard with sugar. There is no direct link between sugar and bone health. However, people often get exposed to the risk of osteoporosis when they consume more sugary snacks than nutrient-rich food products. The best way to overcome your sweet cravings is to stick to healthy choices, such as cranberries, prunes, and antioxidant-rich fruits that contain bone-friendly nutrients.

3. Carbonated drinks
If you drink a lot of soda, then be prepared to face the health consequences later in life. Drinking cola every day of the week can reduce bone mineral density and elevate your risk of fracture.

4. Caffeine
Caffeine is also a big contributor to bone erosion that people don’t know about. According to a recent study, caffeine can suck away the calcium from your bones, thereby making them weak. You lose up to 6mg of calcium for every 100mg caffeine you consume. Caffeine with sugar can exacerbate your osteoporosis symptoms and affect your overall health.

5. Charred food items
We all love that smoky taste in our grilled vegetables, but charred foods are bad for your health and not just your bones. Burnt food contains advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that cause inflammation reactions in your body. To prevent AGEs from compromising your food’s integrity, avoid using dry heat cooking methods like grilling, broiling, toasting, and baking. Instead, consider boiling, slow cooking, or pan-frying on medium heat to retain the food’s nutritional value.

6. Legumes
Excessive beans in your diet can prevent your body from soaking up an adequate amount of calcium. Navy beans, pinto beans, and other kinds of beans contain phytates, the component that interferes with your body’s ability to absorb calcium. However, beans contain other healthy nutrients that help in preventing osteoporosis. So make sure you reduce the phytate levels in your beans by soaking them a few hours before cooking.

Now that you know about the foods that aggravate osteoporosis , you must follow a prevention diet and choose healthy food options over their unhealthy counterparts.