Warnings about the dangers of soft drink consumption came to us in 1942 when the American Medical Association (AMA) Council on Food and Nutrition made the following noble statement:
“From a health point of view, it is especially desirable to restrict the use of sugar as represented by the consumption of sugary carbonated drinks and forms of sweets that have low nutritional value. The Council believes that it would be in the interest of public health by all practical means that must be taken to limit the consumption of sugar in any form in which it is not combined with substantial proportions of other foods of high nutritional quality”.
The colossal increases in soft drink consumption have not happened by chance, they are due to the intense marketing efforts of soft drink corporations. For the marketing of soft drinks, the adult market is stagnant, so children are the target. Soft drink companies spend billions on advertising. Much of these marketing efforts are directed at children through playgrounds, toys, cartoons, movies, videos, charities, and amusement parks; and through contests, sweepstakes, games, and clubs through television, radio, magazines, and the Internet. Your efforts have paid off.
In 1998, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) warned the public that soda companies were beginning to infiltrate our schools and kids’ clubs. As our children are exposed to constant soda advertising, evidence of its dangers is mounting. Soft drink consumption is fraught with dangers. We, as practitioners and advocates of a healthy lifestyle, recognize that consuming even one or two soft drinks a day is undoubtedly linked to a myriad of pathologies.
The most commonly associated health risks are obesity, diabetes and other blood sugar disorders, tooth decay, osteoporosis and bone fractures, nutritional deficiencies, heart disease, food addictions, and eating disorders. , neurotransmitter dysfunction from chemical sweeteners, and neurological and adrenal disorders from excessive caffeine. .
A common problem that I have seen over the years, especially in adolescents, is general gastrointestinal (GI) upset. This includes elevated stomach acid levels requiring acid suppressants and moderate to severe gastric inflammation with possible stomach lining. The common complaint I hear is a chronic “stomach ache.” In almost all cases, when the client successfully abstains from soft drinks and caffeine, the symptoms disappear. Another problem with soft drinks is that they act as dehydrating diuretics, just like tea, coffee, and alcohol. All of these drinks can inhibit proper digestive function. It is much healthier to consume herbal teas, nutritious soups and broths, natural drinks and water to meet our daily fluid needs. These fluids support, not inhibit, digestion.
Ingredients
• Aspartame, which is used in diet sodas, is a potent neurotoxin and endocrine disruptor.
• Caffeine stimulates the adrenal gland without providing nutrition. In large amounts, caffeine can cause adrenal exhaustion, especially in children.
• Phosphoric acid, which is added to give soft drinks a “bite,” is associated with calcium loss.
• Citric acid often contains trace amounts of MSG, a neurotoxin.
• Artificial flavors may also contain traces of MSG.
• Water can contain large amounts of fluoride and other contaminants.
soft drinks and violence
According to an article published in The Lancet, in December 2000, the Irish government ordered an “urgent investigation” into the effects of so-called “functional energy” or stimulant soft drinks following the death of an 18-year-old boy who died while playing basketball. . . He had consumed three cans of “Red Bull”, a stimulant soft drink. The article noted that there have been reports of an increase in late-night aggressive violence when people switch to these drinks while drowsy from excess alcohol. The resulting violence was so widespread that some establishments in Ireland have refused to sell stimulant drinks.
Students are now given “electrolyte” drinks called “ergogenic aids” to replace the electrolytes that are supposedly depleted during workouts. There are three problems with using these drinks as a rehydration solution. First, most soft drinks are diuretics, meaning they draw fluid from the body, exacerbating dehydration rather than correcting it. Second, most people actually lose few electrolytes during exercise. After exercise the body is usually on an electrolyte charge having lost more fluids than electrolytes.
fruit juice
Consumers often drink commercial fruit juices in the belief that they are healthier than soft drinks. However, the manufacture of fruit juices is a highly industrialized process. Fruit juices are high in sugar and have actually been more damaging to teeth in test animals than soda!
If you want to drink fruit juice, buy a juicer and make it yourself from organic fruits. It is best to dilute a small amount of fruit juice with water. It makes a delicious and refreshing drink. In restaurants, ask for mineral water and a few wedges of fresh lemon or lime.
