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