10 reasons to skip fizzy drinks
1. The vast majority of sodas have no nutritional value, at all. Zip, zero, nada.
2. Soda is high in sugar and calories, which lead to obesity, diabetes and blood sugar imbalances.
3. Weight issues aside, the excessive sugar in soda has many damaging effects such as decreased brain function, fatigue, moodiness, headaches, allergies and a suppressed immune system.
4. The artificial food colourings, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, MSG and citric acid in fizzy drinks have been shown to cause disruptive behaviors such as aggression and ADHD, lack of focus and abnormal brain function.
5. Fizzy drinks can cause heart disease. A Harvard study found that one daily 12-ounce serving of regular soda increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 19 percent.
6. Caffeine is an addictive drug and can affect the developing brains of children. Children shouldn't consume any caffeine, yet a typical fizzy drink provides 35 to 38 milligrams of caffeine per 12-ounce can. Diet sodas often contain more, as do certain brands such as Mountain Dew and Pepsi One.
7. Soda drinkers are more likely to be lacking in calcium, magnesium and many vitamins. Kids who drink soda often eat fewer whole foods. Drinking fizzy drinks triggers the body to produce insulin that then triggers the body to crave more sugar. When a child fills up on sugar and other unhealthful foods, he consumes fewer healthful ones.
8. These drinks are dehydrating. They are diuretics just like coffee, tea and alcohol. Our little athletes certainly need to hydrate, and whether children play sports or not, water is essential for every function of their bodies.
9. Fizzy drinks weaken kidneys and the liver. The high levels of phosphoric acid in sodas have been linked to kidney stones and other renal problems, with diet soda most likely to have a negative effect on kidney function. The sugar and high fructose corn syrup in soda place pressure on the liver.
10. Fizzy drinks contribute to tooth decay. The sugar causes cavities and the acids deteriorate tooth enamel. Dentists have reported significant enamel loss on the front teeth of teenagers who regularly drink sodas.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teenagers and young adults are the biggest consumers of soft drinks. This is not good! A teenager's body is smaller than an adult's and still developing, therefore more susceptible to the chemicals, sugar and caffeine found in soft drinks.
Here's something for your kids to think about: Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco estimate that "slapping a penny-per-ounce tax on sweetened drinks would prevent nearly 100,000 cases of heart disease, 8,000 strokes, and 26,000 deaths over the next decade." And potentially prevent 240,000 cases of diabetes per year. The tax could generate an estimated $13 billion yearly tax revenue and perhaps also "save the public $17 billion over the next decade in health care-related expenses due to the decline of obesity-related diseases."
So our family is going to curb soda again. As loudly as it beckons my boys and as tempting as it is to many people, it doesn't seem like a can (or box) worth opening.
Seidenberg is co-founder of Nourish Schools, a Washington, D.C.-based nutrition education company, and author of "The Super Food Cards," a collection of healthful recipes and advice.
