Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com

Spoonfuls of coffee help the milk go down.

But lattes and other milky espresso drinks shouldn't be female boomers' first choice for satisfying daily calcium needs as they age.

The problem is women, in general, have poor drinking habits, and opt for soda before reaching for a milk carton. They consume on, average, about six ounces of milk daily, far short of the recommended 24 ounces, according to a study commissioned by the Milk Processor Education Program called "What America Drinks."

In a news release announcing the study, Carolyn O'Neil, a registered dietician and author of "The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous!," said skim and nonfat lattes can be an easy way to correct calcium shortfalls, calling them an "eye-opening nutrition ally."

But coffee has both good and bad nutritional attributes. Boomers who add milk to their java shouldn't forgo broccoli, bok choy, yogurts, cheeses and other rich sources of calcium as part of maintaining a well-balanced diet, nutritionists cautioned. Consider that one cup of bok choy supplies 330 milligrams of calcium, about one quarter of the recommended intake for adults over 50.

The milk industry report found that about 40 percent of Americans drank coffee, making it the third most commonly consumed beverage in the country behind sofdrinks and milk. Women were more likely than men to skimp on milk, too.

"A lot of adult woman are just not in the habit of drinking milk," O'Neil said, blaming the shortfall on an "on-the-go lifestyle" in which many adults don't seek out milk on restaurant menus, or make room for it in car cupholders.

Lifestyle Habits
O'Neil maintained that a 16 oz. Grande Caffe Latte at Starbucks - which provides 415 milligrams of calcium, or 40 percent of the daily value for calcium - can help minimize the calcium shortfall for some individuals who already are "in the habit" of drinking coffee. (Starbucks was not affiliated with the study, but cited because of its ubiquitous nature).

"From a modern nutrition standpoint, you want to look at the lifestyle habits that people already have, and improve their nutrition within the things they are already doing," O'Neil said.

Java junkies do enjoy some benefits as coffee is linked to disease fighting and prevention, O'Neil said.

But the caffeine in coffee also acts as a artificial stimulant, triggering the pituitary gland to secrete a hormone that tells the adrenal glands to produce adrenalin. Caffeine has been known to increase weight and negatively affect blood sugar levels, too, according to Heidi Synder, a certified nutrition consultant in Sausalito, Calif., and holistic educator at Hawthorn University.

"When we consume stimulants and live in a high-stress culture... our body was not meant to sustain that," Snyder said.

Some habitual latte drinkers needing a fix risk adding to their waistline through popular extras such as flavored syrups. Not to mention the potential to deplete their bodies of nutritional value through the use of artificial sweeteners.

"What we're really not addressing is 'Why do you need coffee so much? Are there other beverages that can nourish me?'" Snyder said.

Drinking milk on its own is worth trying, while water is an important, but often overlooked, beverage.

Snyder said she advises clients who have a hard time giving up java to drink organic shade grown coffees with raw dairy sources.

Calcium Concerns
Promoting coffee drinking highlights confusion about the effect of caffeine on bones, more specifically, calcium absorption. That confusion comes as woman are being encouraged to make sure they meet their recommended daily calcium intake - about 1,200 milligrams a day for adults 50 and older - to prevent osteoporosis-related fractures in the hip, spine or wrist.

The folks at the Milk Processor Education Program contend caffeine is not harmful, citing a series of studies by Dr. Robert Heaney of Creighton University in which he concluded that four to six milligrams of calcium were lost for every cup of coffee, a phenomenon seen mainly in women with inadequate intakes.

"Their goal is to increase dairy fluid consumption," Snyder said. "That right there tells you there is a bias."

To be sure, O'Neil said it's important for every woman to examine her coffee habits, and make sure the latte isn't interfering with sleep, or contributing to upset stomachs and heartburn.

Women who drink lattes and other espresso drinks with milk "still have to get the rest of (their calcium) and fill in the gap," she said.