It's not the bubbles that are bad for you

Q. I drink several cups of my own carbonated beverage throughout the day, which I make from carbonated water, fresh-squeezed lime juice, pomegranate juice and grated ginger. But a friend told me that drinking lots of carbonated water leaches calcium from my bones and will cause osteoporosis.

I've also heard that carbonated drinks could be bad for my heart. Is this true?

A. Your friend probably remembers studies that found people who drank carbonated soft drinks excreted more calcium in their urine and were more prone to fractures related to osteoporosis than people who drank other things. But the culprit wasn't the bubbles; it was the phosphoric acid in colas. Carbonated sodas have been linked to obesity and diabetes, too, but again, it's not the fizz that's at fault; it's the sugar. Similarly, drinking a daily can of pop is associated with heart disease, but the bubbles even get a pass on this one.

People who linger in the soft drink aisle may spend too much time in the snack aisle, as well. So your homemade carbonated drink is largely benign, with one caution: The citric acid in it can erode he enamel on your teeth. Use a straw, and enjoy!

For more You Docs advice, check out their website at www.realage.com.