Liquid Candy: The Rise of Soft Drinks in America

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Liquid Candy: The Rise of Soft Drinks in America

 

 

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:

 

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:

 

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