Do You Know What You Are Drinking?

Tomorrow morning for breakfast, would you take a glass, half fill it with sugar, add acid strong enough to break down tooth enamel, stir in artificial coloring, throw in carbonation, and drink it? Statistics state that soft drinks account for more than a quarter of all beverages drunk in the United States. The average American drinks 53 gallons of carbonated soft drinks per year.

Is there really anything wrong with a can of soda?

• It depends on your definition of "anything wrong." If you drink one, or more sodas per day, you increase your risk of "metabolic syndrome." This increases your risk for heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Drinking diet soda does not change this statistic.
• Caffeine, in heavy amounts, may make you a bundle of nerves, and may aggravate heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat patterns). Additionally, it creates caffeine dependency.
• This "liquid candy" (so called for the amount of sugar in it) can fill you up with 160 calories leaving little to no room for foods with nutritional value.
• It can break down your tooth enamel causing tooth decay. The acid in soda pop is only slightly less destructive than battery acid.
• Soda often contains dyes that are harmful to some people. (Are you sure you are not one of them?)
• Some research indicates a link between drinking pop and esophageal cancer.
• Other studies suggest that there is a link between drinking colas, and having kidney stones.
• Diet soda has a higher amount of acid than regular pop.

If you still want to drink soda, do it wisely.

• Strictly limit the amount that you drink – no more than one can per day.
• Drink it with meals to restrict the damage done by the sugar and acid.
• Don't let it replace more nutritious foods.
• Rinse your mouth – or better yet, brush your teeth after consuming soft drinks.
• Use a straw to limit the amount of acid touching your teeth.

Glenn will be at The Gathering, a group of local merchants, in Ocala on Saturday, February 27, 2010. Make plans now to attend the gathering, and chat with Glenn about your own personal fitness program.