Time To Give Up Soft Drinks
Are carbonated soft drinks harmless treats or dietary disasters? The truth is, they are a health hazard.
Whether soft drinks are carbonated or not they continue to pose a health hazard. These drinks can be found throughout the world. In the US alone there are 450 different types which are sold at more than 2.5 million vending machines, dispensing them around the clock, including schools. The American Beverage Association says that, in 2004, 28 percent of all beverages consumed in the U.S. were carbonated soft drinks.
Soft drinks are little more than sugar water. It does not benefit you at all, except to promote the possibility of becoming diabetic etc. The U.S. Department of Agriculture advises a 2,000 calorie-a-day limit as part of a healthy lifestyle, and no more than 10 to 12 teaspoons of sugar.
In the UK, more than 5,560 million litres of carbonated soft drinks are consumed every year. Such drinks are crammed full of sugars and acid that attack our teeth and may result in dental decay.
Tooth decay happens when teeth are attacked by acid, and this can happen in two ways. Acid attacks can happen as a result of plaque bacteria acting on the sugars in our diet, or as a direct result of the acids in food dissolving away the enamel on the surfaces of our teeth. As carbonated soft drinks tend to contain high amounts of both sugars and acids, they´re the worst possible combination for dental health.
Even drinks labelled ´sugar free,´ ´reduced sugar´ or ´low sugar´ can still contain enough sugar to cause damage to your teeth, and have the same acids as the standard carbonated drinks. Therefore, it´s recommended that you replace carbonated drinks in the diet with other options.
There are three basic types of energy drinks:
1. Refreshment energy - formulated to replenish energy levels for someone who´s perhaps run down or recovering from illness.
2. Sports drinks - formulated to rapidly replace fluids during exercise and maintain the body´s blood glucose levels.
3. Functional energy - aimed at anyone who wants to gain a quick burst of energy and alertness.
Energy drinks contain complex carbohydrates - a blend of slow-, medium- and fast-acting sugars - and are able to supply energy to the body over an extended period of time. They may also contain ´energy enhancing´ ingredients such as caffeine or taurine to boost alertness.
The safety of energy drinks, in particular their energy-enhancing ingredients, has been investigated by a European committee. When it comes to caffeine, most energy drinks were found to contain the same amount as a cup of filter coffee. The committee therefore felt there was no concern about the contribution of energy drinks for non-pregnant adults.
The local scene in Malaysia is equally disappointing. One wonders why the sugar content in all drinks has not been reduced. One also wonders how adverts on television and radio have managed to be approved over such gimmicks as ‘Tongkat Ali’ in coffee. Are we promoting a healthy lifestyle or an unhealthy one?
The time has come to be serious over health issues involving diabetics, high-blood pressure, hypertension, heart disease etc, by enacting laws governing the production of food and drink.
Increasing the number of dialysis machines throughout the country is not going to help improve the health situation. Instead, what is needed is an increase in health awareness through the media, notably on television during prime time hours. |
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