A new decade-long study is raising questions about how daily drink choices may influence bone strength in older women — and why moderation matters.
According to Fox News, researchers in Australia are reporting that women who put away more than five cups of coffee per day had noticeably lower hip bone density than those who drank less.
That effect was especially clear among women with higher lifetime alcohol intake, a known contributor to weakened bones and increased fracture risk.
The findings, released by Flinders University and published in the journal Nutrients, are based on data from nearly 10,000 women aged 65 and older who were tracked for shifts in bone mineral density, a key marker for osteoporosis.
Tea, however, told a different story.
Scientists found that tea drinkers consistently showed slightly stronger hip bone density than non-tea drinkers, suggesting a small but meaningful benefit over time.
“Even small improvements in bone density can translate into fewer fractures across large groups,” said study co-author Enwu Liu in a university statement.
Liu later described the effect to Fox News Digital as equal to roughly a one-year slowdown in age-related bone loss.
He pointed to naturally occurring compounds in tea — flavonoids and catechins — as likely contributors to improved bone strength. Those compounds are also found in leafy vegetables, dark chocolate, and other antioxidant-rich foods.
For women who prefer tea, Liu recommended unsweetened varieties without added sugar.
Coffee drinkers weren’t left out — but dose mattered.
Moderate coffee consumption showed no measurable harm to bone density. Problems emerged only among women who far exceeded the typical daily intake, drinking more than five cups a day.
Among those heavy coffee drinkers, bone density dropped even further for women who also reported higher alcohol use.
The study did not confirm whether coffee and alcohol interact to worsen bone loss, only that the two factors commonly appeared together.
New Jersey–based dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade said the findings highlight how everyday habits stack up over time.
“When it comes to tea, drink it if you enjoy it — but if you prefer coffee, just keep it in moderation,” she said, emphasizing simple nutrition and lifestyle strategies that protect aging bones.
She pointed to strength training, calcium and vitamin D intake, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol — all widely recognized factors that support bone health.
Palinski-Wade also noted that caffeine slightly reduces calcium absorption, but said the effect is usually offset by a calcium-rich diet or milk added to coffee.
Overall, researchers concluded that the beverages themselves aren’t the problem — it’s how much, how often, and what other habits accompany them. For older women in particular, those choices may be shaping the long-term stability of the bones that hold everything up.
