Does Coca-Cola really kill sperm?

I always hear this rumor: "Men can't drink Coke, otherwise they will become infertile."

In fact, unless the sperm is directly soaked in cola, it is difficult to kill the "tadpoles". The first experiment that concluded that "cola affects sperm motility" was that the researchers soaked the sperm in cola and left it at room temperature for 1 minute, and found that the sperm motility was significantly reduced.

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But this experiment does not mean that drinking cola will lead to the same result. A study showed that consuming less than 800 mg of caffeine per day and consuming 14 0.5-liter bottles of cola per week did not lead to a decrease in sperm quality. Even if the amount used in the experiment was exceeded, sperm quality remained within the normal range.

On the other hand, drinking more than 1 liter of cola every day not only takes up space in the stomach, but also causes bloating. You will not be able to eat anything else. Over time, malnutrition will occur, which will inevitably reduce the quality of sperm.

Therefore, if you only drink Coke occasionally, or drink a relatively small amount every day, you don’t have to worry about it “killing sperm” .

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There are also rumors that carbonated drinks contain phosphoric acid, and drinking them frequently will affect calcium absorption, increase bone loss, and make people more susceptible to osteoporosis.

Scientists have different views on this issue. Some believe that excessive intake of carbonated beverages can easily cause an imbalance in the calcium-phosphorus ratio, delay calcium absorption, and ultimately lead to osteoporosis and increase the risk of fractures.

However, the World Health Organization believes that for an adult weighing 60 kg, the maximum daily intake of phosphorus is 4,200 mg, which is safe and will not cause health problems.

Every 100 grams of cola-like carbonated drinks contains 45 mg of phosphorus. Drinking three or four bottles a day will indeed lower the calcium-phosphorus ratio and affect calcium absorption .

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Moreover, in 2006, researchers from Tufts University in the United States published an article showing that among all carbonated drinks, only cola is related to decreased bone density .

So, if you like the taste of carbonated drinks and are worried about osteoporosis, don't drink cola or the like, just choose other carbonated drinks .

So, drinking carbonated drinks frequently is naturally unhealthy, but it is not completely unhealthy. Be careful to drink in moderation, after all, it can deliver "happiness". And boiled water is always the healthiest drink .

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Review | Zhang Yu, researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, doctor of medicine, and master's supervisor