Warnings about the dangers of soft drink consumption came to us in 1942 when the Food and Nutrition Council of the American Medical Association (AMA) made the following lofty 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 public health interest for every practical means should be taken to limit the consumption of sugar in any form where 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 the 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 on 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 advertising for soft drinks, evidence of their dangers is mounting. The consumption of soft drinks is fraught with dangers. We, as practitioners and advocates of a healthy lifestyle, recognize that consuming even one or two sodas per 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 excess caffeine. .

A common problem that I have seen over the years, especially in adolescents, is general gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort. This includes increased acid levels from erosion of the stomach requiring acid inhibitors 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 beverages can inhibit proper digestive function. It is much healthier to consume herbal teas, soups and nutritious broths, natural drinks and water to meet our daily fluid needs. These fluids support, not inhibit, digestion.

Ingredients

• Aspartame, 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 trace amounts of MSG.

• Water may 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 who died while playing basketball. . . He had consumed three cans of “Red Bull”, a stimulating 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 too much 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 electrolytes that are supposedly depleted during workouts. There are three problems with using these drinks as a rehydration solution. First of all, most soft drinks are diuretics, which means that they draw fluid from the body, exacerbating rather than correcting dehydration. Second, most people actually lose few electrolytes during exercise. After exercise the body is usually on an electrolyte load 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 the teeth of test animals than sodas!

If you want to drink fruit juice, buy a juicer and make your own from organic fruit. It is best to dilute a small amount of fruit juice with water. Makes a delicious and refreshing drink. In restaurants, ask for mineral water and a few pieces of fresh lemon or lime.