Liquid Candy: The Rise of Soft Drinks in America

December 28, 2005

Liquid Candy: The Rise of Soft Drinks in AmericaSPECIAL REPORT FOR OUR READERSAccording to this Los Angeles Times article, the push to get sodas out ofschools is growing stronger. Anti-soda measures are currently underconsideration in many states and school districts.The American Beverage Association has already made some policy changes inresponse, including resolving to remove sodas entirely from elementary schools,allow middle-school kids access to full-calorie sodas only after school hours,and make sure that, at most, only 50 percent of the vending machine beverages inhigh schools are soft drinks.All Sugary Drinks are a ProblemSoft drinks are currently the primary source of added sugars, and studiesconnect them to obesity and nutrient deficits. Along with sodas, juice drinks,sports drinks, energy drinks, coffee, and even fruit juice can also cause weightand health problems if drunk excessively. The American Academy of Pediatricssuggests that children drink no more than 8 to 12 ounces of fruit juice daily.More Than 46 Gallons of Soda a Year!In 1976, soft drink sales surpassed those of milk. Soda consumption has doubledsince 1971, from 25.5 gallons per person per year to over 46 gallons in 2003. Atthe same time, other sugary drinks have gained popularity, including sweetenedteas, energy drinks, and sports drinks.Your Body Simply Can't Handle ItSome scientists worry that calories from sugary drinks may not be adequatelycontrolled by the body's appetite regulation system; it does not reduce yourhunger like solid food does, so the total calorie intake is even higher. Othersare concerned by the fact that U.S. soft drinks are sweetened with high-fructosecorn syrup, which is processed differently in the body than other sugars, andmay turn into fat more easily.The article also revealed that:Carbonated drinks and juices were the leading source of calories in the dietof the average teenager, ranging from 12-13 percentPeople who consume high amounts of added sugars are more likely to bedeficient in calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, as well as various vitaminsEach added 8-ounce daily serving of soft drink a child consumes increasestheir chance of being obese by 60 percentLos Angeles Times September 15, 2005Dr. Mercola's Comment:Dear Health Conscious Readers!I just CRINGE when I walk through a supermarket and see so many rows and rowsand rows of toxic products that are being foisted on the public. And how fewproducts are actually healthful and nutrious.Thank you for continuing to educate friends and neighbors about the health timebomb of the industrialized, mechanized, artificialized, profiteering "food"industry.PatYour EditorThis is a great article, making a number of excellent points about why softdrinks are the single most important factor in the epidemic of childhood obesitythat is sweeping America. I'm also particularly glad the article covers thedangers of all sugary beverages, including energy drinks and, yes, fruit juice,which are often wrongly considered "healthy."To truly be healthy, you will want to seriously consider reducing or eliminatingall sugars from your diet.That being said, soft drinks are probably the worst and most dangerous culprit,and there are certainly many good reasons to keep kids away from them. The 46gallons a year number quoted in the article is two years old -- in that briefinterval, consumption has skyrocketed to roughly 56 gallons per person per year.In fact, earlier this year it was documented that sodas became the number onesource of calories in America. Some conditions related to soft drink intakeinclude:OsteoporosisAttention deficit disorder (ADD)InsomniaKidney stonesTooth decayThe worst of all, however, may be obesity. Consider the fact that your risk forobesity increases by a whopping 60 percent for each can of soda you drink a day,and that obesity may actually lower the average age of death in the UnitedStates to a point so low that your children will be dying at a younger age thanyou do for the first time in history.Recently, I mentioned that mounting pressures on the American BeverageAssociation are forcing the group to recommend limiting the availability of softdrinks in schools. However, eliminating temptations during the school daydoesn't completely solve the problem if parents make a quick side trip for a BigGulp on the way home. Children see and imitate what their parents do.Related Articles:http://www.mercola.com/2005/sep/29/liquid_candy_the_rise_of_soft_drinks_in_ameri\ca.htmThe Amazing Statistics and Dangers of Soda PopTurbo Tapping: How to Get Rid of Your Soda AddictionParents Strongest Influence on How Much Soda Kids Drinkhttp://www.mercola.com/2005/sep/29/liquid_candy_the_rise_of_soft_drinks_in_ameri\ca.htm

December 29, 2005

In my opinion the Soda, Coffee, and Energy (Highly Caffinated)Drinks

shouldn't have never been allowed in School's period! They should

only have 100% Fruit Juices, Milks (almond milks), and even Oranic

drinks! Not the garbage they have in those vending machines. This

includes the junkfood machines!!! They should sell more fresh fruits

and snack size veggies instead of candy!

Besides the Government already has Nutrition laws governing what

they feed our children; why should the vending machines be any

different, still in schools and serving our children!!!

Gabby Marie

, whtgypsywtch@a... wrote:

>

> Liquid Candy: The Rise of Soft Drinks in America

>

> SPECIAL REPORT FOR OUR READERS

> According to this Los Angeles Times article, the push to get

sodas out of

> schools is growing stronger. Anti-soda measures are currently

under

> consideration in many states and school districts.

>

> The American Beverage Association has already made some policy

changes in

> response, including resolving to remove sodas entirely from

elementary

> schools,

> allow middle-school kids access to full-calorie sodas only after

school

> hours,

> and make sure that, at most, only 50 percent of the vending

machine

> beverages in

> high schools are soft drinks.

>

> All Sugary Drinks are a Problem

>

> Soft drinks are currently the primary source of added sugars, and

studies

> connect them to obesity and nutrient deficits. Along with sodas,

juice

> drinks,

> sports drinks, energy drinks, coffee, and even fruit juice can

also cause

> weight

> and health problems if drunk excessively. The American Academy of

Pediatrics

> suggests that children drink no more than 8 to 12 ounces of fruit

juice

> daily.

>

> More Than 46 Gallons of Soda a Year!

>

> In 1976, soft drink sales surpassed those of milk. Soda

consumption has

> doubled

> since 1971, from 25.5 gallons per person per year to over 46

gallons in

> 2003. At

> the same time, other sugary drinks have gained popularity,

including

> sweetened

> teas, energy drinks, and sports drinks.

>

> Your Body Simply Can't Handle It

>

> Some scientists worry that calories from sugary drinks may not be

adequately

> controlled by the body's appetite regulation system; it does not

reduce your

> hunger like solid food does, so the total calorie intake is even

higher.

> Others

> are concerned by the fact that U.S. soft drinks are sweetened

with

> high-fructose

> corn syrup, which is processed differently in the body than other

sugars, and

> may turn into fat more easily.

>

> The article also revealed that:

>

> Carbonated drinks and juices were the leading source of calories

in the diet

> of the average teenager, ranging from 12-13 percent

> People who consume high amounts of added sugars are more likely

to be

> deficient in calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, as well as

various vitamins

> Each added 8-ounce daily serving of soft drink a child consumes

increases

> their chance of being obese by 60 percent

>

> Los Angeles Times September 15, 2005

>

> Dr. Mercola's Comment:

>

> Dear Health Conscious Readers!

>

> I just CRINGE when I walk through a supermarket and see so many

rows and rows

> and rows of toxic products that are being foisted on the public.

And how few

> products are actually healthful and nutrious.

>

> Thank you for continuing to educate friends and neighbors about

the health

> time

> bomb of the industrialized, mechanized, artificialized,

profiteering " food "

> industry.

>

> Pat

>

> Your Editor

>

> This is a great article, making a number of excellent points

about why soft

> drinks are the single most important factor in the epidemic of

childhood

> obesity

> that is sweeping America. I'm also particularly glad the article

covers the

> dangers of all sugary beverages, including energy drinks and,

yes, fruit

> juice,

> which are often wrongly considered " healthy. "

>

> To truly be healthy, you will want to seriously consider reducing

or

> eliminating

> all sugars from your diet.

>

> That being said, soft drinks are probably the worst and most

dangerous

> culprit,

> and there are certainly many good reasons to keep kids away from

them. The 46

> gallons a year number quoted in the article is two years old --

in that brief

> interval, consumption has skyrocketed to roughly 56 gallons per

person per

> year.

>

> In fact, earlier this year it was documented that sodas became

the number one

> source of calories in America. Some conditions related to soft

drink intake

> include:

>

> Osteoporosis

> Attention deficit disorder (ADD)

> Insomnia

> Kidney stones

> Tooth decay

>

> The worst of all, however, may be obesity. Consider the fact that

your risk

> for

> obesity increases by a whopping 60 percent for each can of soda

you drink a

> day,

> and that obesity may actually lower the average age of death in

the United

> States to a point so low that your children will be dying at a

younger age

> than

> you do for the first time in history.

>

> Recently, I mentioned that mounting pressures on the American

Beverage

> Association are forcing the group to recommend limiting the

availability of

> soft

> drinks in schools. However, eliminating temptations during the

school day

> doesn't completely solve the problem if parents make a quick side

trip for a

> Big

> Gulp on the way home. Children see and imitate what their parents

do.

>

> Related Articles:

>

_http://www.mercola.com/2005/sep/29/liquid_candy_the_rise_of_soft_dri

nks_in_am

> eri\

> ca.htm_

>

(http://www.mercola.com/2005/sep/29/liquid_candy_the_rise_of_soft_dri

nks_in_america.htm)

> The Amazing Statistics and Dangers of Soda Pop

>

> Turbo Tapping: How to Get Rid of Your Soda Addiction

>

> Parents Strongest Influence on How Much Soda Kids Drink

>

_http://www.mercola.com/2005/sep/29/liquid_candy_the_rise_of_soft_dri

nks_in_am

> eri\

> ca.htm_

>

(http://www.mercola.com/2005/sep/29/liquid_candy_the_rise_of_soft_dri

nks_in_america.htm)

>

December 30, 2005

In a message dated 12/29/2005 3:53:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, wakerens writes:

Besides the Government already has Nutrition laws governing what they feed our children; why should the vending machines be any different, still in schools and serving our children!!!Gabby Marie

Gabby, I AGREE!!! They do not sell quote "Liquid Candy" per say LOL at my children's school but hopefully these types of concerns will remain concerns and only that.

Both of my children are ADHD and I would not like to add to their diet, caffeine drinks outside of what I choose to give them.

Many Blessings,

Jennifer

P.S HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!!