Soft Drinks Not So Subtle
Have you ever wondered why sugary, carbonated beverages are called soft drinks? They really aren’t soft at all. In fact, recent research published in the Journal of Epidemiological and Community Health, showed that most cans of “soft drink” or soda or “pop” contain the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar. Perhaps we should be calling these drinks “liquid candy.” Regular canned soda is usually sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. This highly processed sweetener has recently been exposed as a main contributor to obesity.
The diet “soft drinks” aren’t much better since they are usually full of aspartame, or other artificial sweeteners including saccharin, sucralose, and/or acesulfame potassium. These artificial sweeteners may cause cancer or other illnesses. More to the point, they are just plain unnecessary.
High consumption of carbonated soft drinks increases the risk of cavities. The intake of sugar in the form of soft drinks has more than doubled since 1980. The worst consequence of this behavior is that tooth decay and caries can eventually progress to tooth loss, which makes chewing more difficult, which causes the individual to avoid harder fibrous foods including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It’s just not worth it. Why not reach for a glass of ice cold water if it’s the cold sensation you are craving? Why not a glass of ice tea?
In a recent study performed by researchers at the University of Oslo in Norway, “high consumption levels of sugar-containing soft drinks [was] associated with mental health problems among adolescents.”
Obesity, cavities, mental health problems…. these three considerations alone should have you second guessing that can of “pop.” We didn’t even touch on the issue of caffeine and what that might do the nervous system in young kids – the addictive properties aside.
The next time you are craving a soft drink, ask yourself, “Do I really need the extra sugar, empty calories, caffeine, etc.?” If you are really in need of carbonation, pour yourself a glass of plain sparkling mineral water. Flavor it with fresh lemon or lime squeezed in or add a few tablespoons of fresh fruit juice. When you give up soft drinks you are not sacrificing nutrition, you are gaining health!
March 23, 2010
by Optimum WellnessComments
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