Do you go to work and longing for that sweet and glorious popping sound the can cover makes when you insert your thumb and push it up? Do you go to bed thinking of the refreshing taste you get from each swig from a can of soda? You might be one of increasing statistics of soda-holic in the country who has been lured by the convenience and the fizzy texture of the stuff.
What’s in a can of soda? Of course you get a cold, refreshing drink that you can easily get from stores and vending machines all over the island for less than a dollar, and have as many as you can in one day. Go to parties and picnics everywhere and you’ll see huge coolers filled with ice-cold soda you just can’t resist.
For sure you’ve heard of the unending litany about the presumed health effects of soda to our bodies like tooth decay, caffeine dependence and addiction, obesity, weakened bones and more but have you tried cutting down on your soda intake and discovered that it’s easier said than done? You may even have experienced feeling restless and bothered if you can’t have soda in one day.
Ok, let’s face it. Warnings about calories and caffeine go into one ear and out the other when you are sipping the world’s coldest can of soda especially on a hot day. As soda becomes the most accessible beverage of choice not only for the young but the adult population, health experts in island are stepping up their campaign to make the public aware of how unhealthy it is and has no nutritional value.
In earlier interviews, Saipan Seventh Day Adventist Dental Clinic president Ken Pierson and Saipan Toothworks president Alan Markoff strongly expressed their views on the dangers of too much soda and preserved juices on one’s teeth.
Pierson said that although soft drinks are not the sole causes of tooth decay, they are a contributing factor and parents should be educated to guide their children at a very early age to stay away from these artificial drinks and have their kids drink water instead.
The United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference in 2009 shows that one Coca-Cola soda, one Pepsi soda and one Dr. Pepper (12 fl oz) contains 155 calories each. 1 7Up (12 fl oz) contains 145 calories.
Have you been sabotaging your health by cutting years off your lifespan by drinking soda? Give your body pure, refreshing water! Here are some tips to help you kick the soda habit to the curb:
• Keep a jug of refrigerated water at all times, have it refilled and well sealed daily to maintain its fresh taste.
• Pour the water into a glass filled with crushed ice to give it a little texture.
• If you really can’t curb the soda habit, you can keep a bottle of soda in your refrigerator and just have a sip or two to satisfy your craving.
• Self-discipline and determination are still the best way to help cut off your soda habit.
Staggering statistics
• Figures published online in 2010 by several health websites showed that the soft drink industry makes $50 billion each year.
• The average worldwide consumption of soft drinks is 89.8 liters per person per year, with the United States and Japan topping the list with 216 liters per person per year. Ireland and Australia follows with 126 liters and 100 liters per person per year.
• In 2008, 9.6 billion cases of soft drinks were sold worldwide
• 1 billion Coke products are consumed every day, and 10,450 Coca-Cola soft drinks consumed every second.
• 21 percent of all the sugar consumed in the American diet comes from soft drinks
• Drinking 2 soft drinks per week increases your risk of pancreatic cancer by 87 percent.
• Drinking 1 soft drink per day increase your risk of metabolic syndrome by 44 percent
• Drinking 1 soda per day increases a child’s risk of becoming obese by 60 percent.
• Drinking 2 soft drinks per day increases your risk of gout by 85 percent.
• One can of Coke contains 10 teaspoons of sugar.
• Have you looked into your soda intake lately? Don’t you think it’s high time to cut back?
Source: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/04.
