Submitted by: Cynthia McMurray(1,295) Cynthia McMurray Write Words Log in to become a member of Cynthia McMurray's Fan Club!
"Enjoy". "Obey Your Thirst". Simple words, yet they are probably some of the most powerful and recognizable mottos in North America right now (maybe even throughout most of the industrialized world). Television and radio spots, magazine and newspaper ads, major events and endless promotional giveaways have resulted in the average American drinking 56 gallons of soft drinks each year. Canadians are not far behind consuming a whopping 30.7 gallons a year. Sadly, you would be hard–pressed to find a teenager (and probably the majority of adults) who don't consider soda a viable alternative to water or juice.
It should come as no surprise that studies irrefutably show that consuming soft drinks is simply not healthy… the main culprit of course, being sugar (about 10 teaspoons/can). Even the soft drink industry agrees (to some extent), which is why they developed the newer "sugar-free" and "diet" sodas. So, what's the problem?
Well, there are many. Apart form the numerous well-documented and published studies linking obesity, type II diabetes, caffeine addiction and tooth decay with drinking soft drinks, there are a number of very serious connections only beginning to make mainstream news.
To start, studies now link drinking only one soft drink a day with an elevated risk for metabolic syndrome, which is essentially a combination of medical disorders that increase your risk of having a heart attack, stroke or diabetes.
Another serious issue with soft drinks is that whether you drink diet soda or not, the fact is that carbonated soft drinks have been shown to lead to weakened bones. Phosphorus (phosphoric acid), a common ingredient in soda, is proven to leach calcium from the bones, which of course, results in bones that become more porous and prone to fractures. This can be even more devastating for children and adolescents who are only beginning to develop bone mass and strength. And statistics show that since 1978, the amount of soda young boys consume has actually tripled. For girls, that number has doubled. Even more disturbing is that according to Harvard studies, it is proven that girls who drink colas are five times more likely to suffer bone fractures than girls who don't drink these sodas. Consistent soft drink consumption is also now linked to osteoporosis. Phosphoric acid is further known to neutralize hydrochloric acid in your stomach, which in simple terms, means it messes with your ability to digest food properly and ultimately absorb and utilize nutrients.
Recent studies further confirm that drinking soft drinks can result in diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver and Parkinson's. Research conducted at Sheffield University in the UK shows that sodium benzoate, a common preservative used in large quantities to prevent mold in soft drinks, has the ability to essentially damage the mitochondria of the cells, enough so that they cease to function resulting is an increased risk of a number of dangerous diseases. If that is not bad enough, other studies confirm that when sodium benzoate is combined with vitamin C, as is the case in many soft drinks, it forms benzene, a cancer-causing chemical linked to leukemia.
And for those of you who think you are doing your body good by drinking "sugar free" sodas, the reality is, you are probably at more risk than people who drink regular soft drinks. Diet sodas are filled with aspartame (also called NutraSweet or Equal), a proven neurotoxic chemical. During digestion, aspartame releases aspartate, a neurotransmitter used by the neurons in the brain. As an "excitatory" amino acid, it is perceived as normal and in fact, a necessary brain chemical that is then allowed to cross the blood-brain barrier. The problem however, is that when normal neurotransmitters such as aspartate cross this barrier in excessive amounts, they become toxic, poisoning and ultimately killing the nerve cells within the brain and spinal cord. And because the blood-brain barrier cannot determine when the brain has received too much, these neurotransmitters continue to build up undetected until toxic levels are reached.
Currently, there are over 92 different health side effects of aspartame listed with the FDA, including brain tumours, birth defects, diabetes and seizures. Aspartame is also made up of approximately 10 percent methanol or wood alcohol, which is a deadly poison that converts to formaldehyde (used in embalming fluid) and formic acid (an activator used to strip epoxy and urethane coatings), which are known carcinogens.
Flying Safety, a US Air Force magazine, stated in May 1992 that, "In pregnancy the effects of aspartame can be passed directly on to the fetus, even in very small doses. Some people have suffered aspartame related disorders with doses as small as that carried in a single stick of chewing gum. This could mean a pilot who drinks diet sodas is more susceptible to flicker vertigo, or to flicker induced epileptic activity. It also means that all pilots are potential victims of sudden memory loss, dizziness during instrument flight and gradual loss of vision." As well, in a document submitted to Health Canada in1995, health officials were also warned about the risks pilots may be under by consuming aspartame. More specifically, they were told that pilots could suffer grand mal seizures in the cockpit after consuming aspartame.
By the FDA's own admission, aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of all complaints regarding adverse reactions. Studies further link aspartame to such diseases as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The effects of aspartame are especially devastating for young children whose brains and nervous systems are still developing. For this reason, pregnant women should also avoid all aspartame.
While soda is definitely convenient and is more palatable to many than water, the best and only advice when it comes to drinking soft drinks should be "Just Say No".
Cynthia McMurray is a freelance natural health writer. She has written numerous books for leading health professionals and was the founder and publisher of a national natural health magazine. She is currently writing in-depth health manuals for a large international health and wellness company.
» left by Robert Melaccio, Sr.(4,435) Robert Melaccio, Sr. (135 days 3 hours ago.)
Good article great information. If we spent a farction on good cclear clcean water we would all be heathier, live longer and have less medical problems. Instead we consume, like it or not suger, suger and suger in varied forms. No wonder we are all hyper? best wishes. Respond to this comment
» left by Susan Thom(8,150) Susan Thom (134 days 5 hours ago.)
hi cynthia,
thanks for a well written, extremely interesting article. i knew there was a reason i wouldn't let my kids drink soda, however, they started when they got older. very disturbing material, since so many of today's kids, as well as adults, are hooked on the stuff. thanks for sharing,
sue thom
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