November 6, 2002|
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November 6, 2002 |
By Rallie McAllister, MD Columnist Grownups aren't the only ones who obey their thirst. A U.S. Department of Agriculture survey found that the typical American teen consumed 20.6 gallons of soda per year in 1979. By 1994, the average teen was downing a whopping 64.5 gallons of soft drinks annually. Kids aged 6 to 11 are almost as bad, drinking double what their counterparts did 20 years ago. The dramatic increase in soda consumption is not accidental. Americans are bombarded with media messages enticing them to drink up. Soft drink manufacturers target consumers shortly after they emerge from the womb; even baby bottles are branded with product logos. The caffeine content of many sodas also contributes to their lure, with some products offering a hefty 54 milligrams per serving. While an occasional dose of caffeine gives you a surge of energy and a mental boost, too much of a good thing is definitely bad. When consumed in excess, caffeine can keep you up at night and make your heart race. If you miss your regular dose of caffeine, you may end up with a killer headache, the most common symptom of caffeine withdrawal. Soft drink manufacturers claim that caffeine is added to their products only for taste, and not for its power to keep caffeine addicts coming back for more. By itself, caffeine is decidedly bitter, but manufacturers insist that this unpleasant-tasting substance has the unique ability to enhance other flavors in soft drinks. Some experts beg to differ. Taste tests conducted at Johns Hopkins University found that a mere 8 percent of habitual soft drink sippers could distinguish between regular and decaffeinated colas. There's some concern that over-zealous consumption of caffeine-containing colas can rob your body of calcium, making the mineral more likely to wind up in your toilet than inside your bones. Inadequate calcium absorption contributes to osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease that increases the risk of fractures. A 1994 Harvard study found a strong link between cola consumption and broken bones in adolescents. Girls who drank colas on a regular basis were five times more like to suffer fractures than girls who abstained. Drinking soft drinks can also boost your chances of getting cavities, but sugar isn't entirely to blame. Even diet drinks are highly acidic, and over time, they can erode the enamel surface of your teeth. There's little doubt that slurping too many sodas contributes to weight gain. During the same period that soft drink consumption in kids has surged upward, the incidence of pediatric obesity has nearly tripled. Harvard researchers found that school children who regularly drank sodas consumed almost 200 calories more each day than their counterparts who did not partake of the bubbly beverages. Over time, those calories add up - to the tune of about two pounds of extra body weight every month. Even diet sodas don't seem to keep folks from packing on pounds. When people start drinking artificially sweetened beverages, they tend to gain weight rather than lose it. The weight gain may stem from the wishful thinking that you can eat anything you want as long as you wash it down with a diet drink. There's also evidence to suggest that the artificial sweeteners in diet sodas stimulate hunger, making you more likely to snack. It's OK to have a Coke and a smile every now and then, but moderation is the key. In itself, a single serving of soda isn't all that bad for you or your kids, but it's not all that good, either. A regular, unadulterated soft drink is loaded with caffeine, artificial dyes and fake flavors. With 10 to 15 teaspoons of sugar, a 12-ounce can of the "real thing" packs about 160 calories. But take away those calories, and its nutritional value is a big, fat goose egg. One of the biggest problems with drinking too many sodas is the fact that they often replace more nutritious beverages. Folks who choose soft drinks over milk or fruit juice are missing out on important vitamins and minerals. Soft drinks may taste great, but they really don't contribute much to the overall health of you or your children. The next time you find yourself reaching for a soda, try opting for a glass of ice-cold water, milk or fruit juice instead. Copyright 2002 Kingsport Times-News.
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