Beloved winter drink may weaken bones and pack concerning levels of sugar

’Tis the season for holiday comfort foods and drinks — but this winter, experts warn that one cozy beverage may be doing more damage to your bones than many revelers realize.Sugary hot chocolate, while often made with milk, can actually weaken the bones because of its high sugar content, orthopedic surgeons say. While a cup of milk delivers about 300 milligrams of calcium — only a quarter of the 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams adults need each day — many hot cocoas can pack 20 to 60 grams of sugar.That’s more than twice what’s in a standard candy bar and enough to approach or even exceed the American Heart Association’s daily limit.Sipping the drink in moderation might be fine for some people.Yet frequent large servings may counteract bone-strengthening nutrients and contribute to long-term bone loss, according to recent reports.“Bone health can have many contributing factors, including the things we eat and drink, particularly milk, as it is a calcium-rich drink,” Dr.

Jeremy Smith, an orthopedic surgeon for the Hoag Orthopedic Institute in California, recently told Parade. “On the other side of the coin, the things we eat and drink can also weaken bones.”Beyond milk, other calcium-rich foods also play an important role.Some of the best foods for calcium absorption are cheese, yogurt, canned fish with the bones, vegetables like broccoli, kale and bok choy, and beans, nuts, seeds and soy, Robin DeCicco, a certified holistic nutritionist in New York City, told Fox News Digital.That’s why hot cocoa shouldn’t be viewed as a calcium source, DeCicco emphasized. “Don’t drink hot chocolate for your calcium needs,” she advised.

“Instead, eat those other foods, and when you’re craving a sweeter, warm treat, try to make your own hot chocolate using more purposeful ingredients.”A 2018 study found that eating too much sugar may raise the risk of osteoporosis by causing the body to lose more calcium and magnesium, which are essential fo...