Soft Drinks & Risk Factors

What do the facts say about Soft Drinks?

Obesity.

One of the world’s most authoritative medical magazines, The Lancet, has recently published the results of its research, which indisputably prove that there is a direct connection between sparkling beverage consumption and children’s obesity. The researchers took into consideration such risk factors as unhealthy diets, low physical activity and heredity, but it turned out that soft drink consumption is an independent risk factor, which doubles the obesity probability.

The easily accessible calories in these fizzy drinks lessen the feeling of hunger for such an insignificant amount of time that they don’t affect the amount of food intake, despite the high number of calories. The carbohydrates are digested mainly into fat.

Of course, the world’s outbreak of obesity that is in headlines today hasn’t been caused soley by the popularity of soft drinks; it’s a more complex problem. But why not cut back on our soft drink consumption? What have we got to lose?

Tooth decay.

The study of case histories of more than 3,200 Americans showed that there is a direct correlation between sparkling beverage consumption and cavities; in fact, analogical researches confirmed the presence of this dependence in the whole world from Sweden to Iraq. Not only sugar and sweeteners are to be blamed for that! The acid that decays enamel is well known today. Soft drinks contain acid, starting with a relatively harmless carbonic one (which breaks up into gas and water almost immediately) and finishing with orthophosphoric acid which can even dissolve nails, not to mention teeth.

Caffeine dependence.

Nearly all soft drinks contain caffeine. Unfortunately, many children form a dependency on caffeine and in their adult life, need to continue consuming caffeine to feel “normal”. The withdrawal from caffeine is even worse than withdrawal from some addictive drugs.

The saddest thing about it is that manufacturers do not consistently mark the labels of the beverages as containing caffeine, although Coca-Cola and Pepsi and their numerous clones certainly have caffeine in them. Sparkling beverage manufacturers claim that the bitter caffeine taste strengthens the taste of other soda ingredients and that’s why they cannot deal without it in the production process. But, they add, there is also so little caffeine in our pops that it cannot have any real influence.

However, the research held in John Hopkins’ Institute testifies to the opposite. According to the scientists, the popularity of sodas containing caffeine can be explained only by the formed psychotropic and physical caffeine dependence. Only eight percent of people could tell if the soda contained caffeine or not just by tasting it! How, then, can caffeine be said to influence the taste of the beverage?

Bone fragility.

Being an element of orthophosphoric acid, phosphorus can diminish the content of calcium in bones. It’s not that dangerous for adults who don’t drink liters of sodas, but children and teenagers experience certain critical periods of bone growth and even insignificant metabolic disorders, which can cause serious health problems in the future. According to the statistics of the Harvard Medical Center, 14-year-old girls consuming large quantities of cola face a five time greater feasibility of fractures and bone formation abnormalities.

We shouldn’t forget that everything in our body is interconnected. Metabolic disorders and obesity contribute to calcium losses, digestion disorders and absorption, thus adding chances of getting ill. Of course, soda is not an enemy on the order of alcohol, nicotine and tobacco, and even a feeble person won’t be affected significantly by a single glass of cola. But if we keep injuring our body by having sodas regularly, the revenge will be severe. Isn’t is better to take care of yourself well in advance, and reach for a tall glass of milk or a bottle of mineral water?