| Soft Drinks, The regular stuff!We all know | | | | study shows that fructose may alter the |
| sugar sweetened soft drinks are empty | | | | body's metabolism in a way that prompts it to |
| calories and help contribute to the overall | | | | store body fat.Fructose is a sweetener found |
| obesity problem in the western world. What | | | | naturally in fruits and honey and is widely |
| most of us don't know is how much of an | | | | used as a sweetener in soft drinks, fructose |
| impact these have and how switching to diet | | | | is usually found in the form of high-fructose |
| drinks may be an even worse choice.In 2000 | | | | corn syrup which contains 55% |
| Americans alone spent $60 billion on | | | | fructose.Researchers say the findings may |
| carbonated soft drinks and billions more on | | | | help explain the recently established link |
| non-carbonated "fruit" beverages. During the | | | | between rising soft drink popularity and |
| same year the average American consumed more | | | | obesity rates in the United States and other |
| than 53 gallons of soft drinks. (Source: | | | | parts of the world.In the study, researchers |
| National Soft Drink Association). Those 53 | | | | led by Dr. Matthias Tschop of the University |
| gallons are equal to over 283 12 ounce cans | | | | of Cincinnati compared the effects of feeding |
| each on average.In 2004, soft drink companies | | | | mice fructose-sweetened water, a soft drink |
| produced enough non-diet soda to provide each | | | | flavored with table sugar, a diet soft drink |
| U.S. resident with about 395 12 ounce cans, | | | | or water. The mice were allowed to drink as |
| and enough diet soda for about 160 cans each, | | | | much as they wanted of their assigned |
| says the Center for Science in the Public | | | | beverage.The mice that drank the |
| Interest.North American consumption | | | | fructose-sweetened water gained significantly |
| represents more than 44% of worldwide | | | | more body fat than the others, even thought |
| consumption, Europe, with a per capita | | | | they decreased the amount of calories they |
| average of 12.7 gallons per year, represented | | | | ate from solid food." We were surprised to |
| 31%. The fastest growth in soft drink | | | | see that mice actually ate less when exposed |
| consumption is in Asia and South America. | | | | to fructose-sweetened beverages and therefore |
| (Source Beverage Marketing Press Release June | | | | didn't consume more overall calories," says |
| 15, 2001).During the late 1950's the typical | | | | Tschop, "Nevertheless they gained |
| soft drink order in a casual or fast food | | | | significantly more body fat within a few |
| restaurant contained about 8 ounces of soda. | | | | weeks."Body fat increased 11% in the fructose |
| Today a "child" order of Coke at McDonalds is | | | | group, 5% in the water group, 7% and 8% in |
| 12 ounces. A "large" Coke is 32 ounces and | | | | the diet and sugar water groups.Researchers |
| about 310 calories.The average 12 ounce can | | | | say the findings suggest the body metabolizes |
| of soda contains about 40 grams of refined | | | | fructose differently than other sweeteners or |
| sugar. That's about 8 Teaspoons! Did you | | | | carbohydrates and in a way that favors fat |
| ever consider you were eating 8 teaspoons of | | | | storage.Between 1970 and 1990 high-fructose |
| sugar with every can of soda pop? For | | | | corn syrup consumption increased by more than |
| comparison the USDA recommends that for a | | | | 1000% largely because the nations soft drink |
| 2,000 calorie per day diet we should not | | | | producers switched from sucrose (sugar) to |
| consume more than 40 grams of refined sugars | | | | high-fructose corn syrup.Making syrup is the |
| per day. In addition each can contains about | | | | second largest use of corn in North America, |
| 150 calories with zero nutritional value per | | | | feeding livestock is the largest. On average |
| 12 ounce can.You can see how an extra 300 to | | | | Americans consume 48 pounds of corn syrup a |
| 400 calories per day can contribute to weight | | | | year. (Source Anan Duming, "Junk Food, Food |
| gain.Dr. Caroline Apovian, an associate | | | | Junk World Watch September / October 1991)A |
| professor at the Boston University School of | | | | 2004 report showed that Americans eat 132 |
| Medicine and director of the Weight | | | | calories each day of high-fructose corn syrup |
| Management Center at Boston Medical Center, | | | | and that figure is closer to 300 for the top |
| says one study found that the chance of | | | | 20%of Americans.Number who are obese goes |
| becoming obese increased 1.6 times for each | | | | from 12% to 17.9%.The number of Americans who |
| sugar sweetened drink consumed per day.In | | | | think about dieting and losing weight is |
| addition to the calories, the sugar and the | | | | probably at an all-time high. But |
| impact on weight gain and obesity, soda | | | | surprisingly, so too are the number of |
| contains caffeine. Caffeine as we know is a | | | | Americans who are overweight (BMI >25) or |
| mildly addictive stimulant drug that keeps us | | | | obese (BMI >30): at least 30% of the |
| coming back for more. Research has shown that | | | | population. The percentage of children and |
| the caffeine delivered in a single 12 ounce | | | | adolescents who are overweight has doubled |
| can of soft drink is enough to produce mood | | | | since the early 1970s, raising concerns for |
| and behavioral effects. (Source: Dr. Roland | | | | long-term health effects. Excess weight is a |
| Griffiths in Eileen O'Conner's "A sip into | | | | health risk for cardiovascular disease and |
| dangerous territory," Monitor on Psychology, | | | | diabetes. By mid-1999, there were 7.1 million |
| 32, June 2001.Fruit Drinks:Like I said | | | | physician visits related to weight |
| repeatedly in my book "Living To BeYounger"we | | | | concerns.Let's see high-fructose corn syrup |
| are literally being marketed to death. I go | | | | production up 1000% from 1970, obesity and |
| into great detail about how ad agencies and | | | | overweight doubled since 1970? Tripled in |
| food companies are packaging products as a | | | | England during the same period?To my simple |
| healthy alternative to junk foods.There is no | | | | way of thinking, "It ain't the whole answer, |
| better example than the "healthy alternative" | | | | but it's a big part of it"!For then full FREE |
| fruit drinks marketed by the soft drink | | | | Special Report on Soft Drinks and Astounding |
| companies. These companies market | | | | information Diet Drinks visit this link.I |
| non-carbonated drinks that pretend to be rich | | | | felt this information was important enough to |
| in fruit juice and nutrients, but are | | | | provide a free excerpt of this chapter of my |
| basically sugar water. Coca-Cola Co.'s | | | | book, "Living To Be Younger". People need to |
| Fruitopia and Hi-C, for example contain only | | | | know the facts about what their consuming and |
| 5% to 10% fruit juice but they contain as | | | | the impact on their health.We simply are not |
| much (or more) sugar as the carbonated soda | | | | getting good information, and the result of |
| pop. Don't be fooled by the claims of added | | | | that lack of knowledge is becoming more and |
| vitamins and minerals on these products | | | | more evident.Discover the facts about the |
| packages, they are still junk food.The | | | | obesity and fitness issues facing us today. |
| sweetener commonly used in soft drinks and | | | | Discover how and why we are being medicated |
| other foods may lead to more body fat than | | | | for "chronic conditions" and how you can look |
| drinks sweetened with plain sugar. A new | | | | and feel younger naturally. |