Soft drink and bones

[Kit]

In the book Science of sport and training and also in the free stretching reports (summer 1998 page 3 - http://www.stadion.com/free/nltr0698.pdf ) it talks about a bone experiement using soft drinks, specifically Coka-cola.

In an effort to demonstrate that coke is more than just bad for your teeth and makes you fat, I tried to replicate this experiment- I submerged 4 chicken thigh bones into: pepsi, coke, and diet coke (zero calorie variety) and in water. I left them that way in sealed containers from the 24th June to 20th july (just over 3 weeks - ie longer than the two weeks mentioned in the article). And then yesterday pulled the bones out (yes they stank!). To my dismay the bones were all the same - no rubbery bone!! True the bones in cola had become dark in colour, ie the same colour as the cola (due to colouring?) but none of the bones had not lost any density. Even with two hands I couldn't get the bones to bend.

To add to my dismay, the thigh bones I used had had one end cut off, meaning the centre of the bone was exposed. I had expected this to mean that even more calcium would be leached from the bones, but even with the core of the bone exposed, the bones would not bend.

Therefore my questions are: Are there any other references to studies looking at softdrinks and the effects on bones?

I don't understand why this experiement didn't work... surely I don't need human bones to make it work!! Can some one (or Mr Kurz) give more background on this topic? As clearly the experiment as quoted in the literature doesn't work..?!

[dragon]

Sorry i have no additional information about the effects of soft drinks on bones.

I don't even know the relevance of the experiment.For example,does submerging a bone in a bottle of cola for 2 weeks equal the same as drinking a bottle cola over 2 weeks?-I doubt it.


The only thing i know is that soft drinks make me feel bloated,sluggish,and do nothing to help my physique(yes,i am vain!).

That's good enough reason for me to lay off them.

Dragon.

[Thomas Kurz]

Therefore my questions are: Are there any other references to studies looking at softdrinks and the effects on bones?

Try sites listed at http://www.stadion.com/links.html , for example, the sites of Dr. Joseph Mercola http://www.mercola.com/ and of Weston A. Price Foundation http://www.westonaprice.org/splash_2.htm . You can also read dr. Maffetone's book listed in references for the article.

I don't understand why this experiement didn't work... surely I don't need human bones to make it work!! Can some one (or Mr Kurz) give more background on this topic? As clearly the experiment as quoted in the literature doesn't work..?!

Take a 2 liter bottle full of Coca-cola. Tie a thread to a small bone and sink the bone in the bottle. The bone has to be completely submerged in Coca-cola. Put the cap on the bottle and wait two weeks.

The bone has to be about the size shown on the photo in the newsletter ( http://www.stadion.com/free/nltr0698.pdf ). If you use a bigger bone (like a chicken thigh bone) it will take more Coca-cola (perhaps more than a gallon) to completely leach minerals out of it. The bigger the bone, the more Coca-cola it takes to make it soft.

[Kit]

Thank you for your reply.
I will try the experiment again as you suggest and look at the resources you mention.

I am curious about Dr Mercola. On first delving into his website, it appears he is more into internet marketing of shallow guides and products (like Matt Fury), rather than offering sound unbiased research. But I will delve deeper and try to find the information you refer to.

[alkalinelife421]

hey kit... would luv to hear the results of your new experiment. and as for dr mercola, i find him to be right on top of things. he doesn't always have it 100% right, but i think his heart is in the right place. good luck ont he experiment!