How Soft Drinks Impact Your Health

A SIP OF SODA: HOW SOFT DRINKS IMPACT YOUR HEALTH ASTHMA Sodium Benzoate, found in sodas, is used as a preservative (microbial control) in foods. Sodium preservatives add sodium to the diet and reduce the availability of potassium. Some reported reactions to sodium benzoate include recurring urticaria (rash), asthma, and eczema Each day 11 Americans die from asthma The annual cost of asthma to the healthcare system is estimated to be nearly $18 billion DISSOLVES TOOTH ENAMEL Sugar and acid in soft drinks easily dissolve tooth enamel. When tooth decay reaches the nerve, the root, and the area at the base of the tooth, the tooth may die and, if left untreated, an abscess can develop. HEART DISEASE Most soft drinks contain high fructose corn syrup, a sweetener that's recently come under considerable scrutiny. High fructose corn syrup has been associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, a condition associated with an elevated risk of both diabetes and heart disease. In 2006, more than one in every four deaths was caused by heart disease. KIDNEY ISSUES Colas contain high levels of phosphoric acid, which has been linked to kidney stone and other renal problems. You are more likely to get kidney stones if you are: Male Caucasian Very overweight REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES Soft drinks cans are coated with a resin that contains BPA (bisphenyl-A). This is the same cancer causing chemical found in plastic baby bottles, water bottles, and plastic containers that wreaks havoc on the endocrine system, potentially causing premature puberty and reproductive abnormalities. 99.9% of plastic bottles contain BPA SUGAR OVERLOAD Twenty minutes after drinking a soda, your blood sugar spikes, causing an insulin burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar to fat. Forty minutes later, caffeine absorption is complete. Your liver dumps more sugar into your bloodstream. The adenosine receptors in your brain are now blocked preventing drowsiness. 45 minutes later, your body ups your dopamine production, stimulating the pleasure centers of your brain. This is physically the same way heroin works, by the way. OSTEOPOROSIS Soft drinks contain phosphoric acid and a high phosphate diet that has been associated with bone breakdown and an increased risk of osteoporosis. When phosphorus is excreted in the urine, it takes calcium with it, depriving the bones and the rest of the body of this important mineral. Eighty percent of those affected by osteoporosis are women. Twenty percent are men. OBESITY The relationship between soft drink consumption and body weight is so strong that researchers calculate that for each additional soda consumed, the risk of obesity increases 1.6 times. 70% of Cardiovascular disease is related to obesity 42% of breast and color cancer is diagnosed in obese individuals 30% of gall bladder surgery is related to obesity INCREASED RISK OF DIABETES Those who drink more soda have an 80% increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Approximately 1 in 10 health care dollars is spent on diabetes.