Is There Really a Diet Soda Epidemic?
Many North Americans are trying to reduce calories by choosing diet pop with their meal. Is it a healthy choice, or are the effects to sidestep extra calories harming us rather than helping us? In a study according to the Huston Chronicle, “600 normal weight patients aged 25-64” were monitored. A follow up approximately 8 years later revealed some interesting facts:
- Participants were 65% more likely to be overweight if they consumed one diet soda a day compared to if they drank none
- Two or more low calorie soft drinks raised the odds of becoming obese or overweight even higher
- Those who drank soda had a greater risk of becoming over weight that participants who drank regular soda. Of course, we cannot blame weight gain entirely on diet soda, but it certainly is a contributing factor!
Health Concerns Relating to Pop
Consumption of soda has correlated to an increase in the number of patients diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease, and obesity over the past decade. Drinking two bottles of pop per day can make you gain a pound of fat per week. Just one 20-ounce glass of soda contains the equivalent of 16 teaspoons of sugar which is nearly three times the maximum daily sugar intake. Your body reacts quickly to pop turning the massive amount of sugar found in them into fat. The sugar found in pop is converted into fat far more quickly than other sugars and fats.
Is Pop Addictive?
Many people struggle with an addiction to pop, but it is important to remember that sugar is in fact more addictive then cocaine. Picking up a pop may satisfy your sweet tooth, but you are causing serious harm to your body. The American Heart Association recommends a discretionary calorie limit for added sugars which is no more than 100 calories per day for women and 150 calories per day for men. The average pop contains about 120 to 200 calories per serving and has also contributed to the nation’s rising obesity rate.
Child Obesity Linked to Pop
Children and teens who drink pop regularly were more likely to be overweight then those who didn’t. For young people aged 2-18, milk fell from 13.2 percent of total calories to 8.3 percent, and soda consumption doubled. For each additional daily serving of pop consumed during a two-year study, the risk of obesity jumped by 60 percent.
Obesity is Not The Only Concern
Drinking one soft drink per day increases your risk of diabetes by 85 percent. Drinking pop also increases your risk of:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Gout
- Non – alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
One of the simplest ways to radically improve your health is quit drinking pop.
Pure water is a much better choice, or if you must drink a carbonated beverage, try sparking mineral water with some lime or lemon juice.
We want to help support disease prevention and curb consumption of these drinks that lead to poor health and increased healthcare costs long-term for the average Canadian.
If you have questions about your overall health and wellness, you can call our clinic and speak to us.
