As a child, I can recall how my brothers and I were always amazed by the bubbles that mysteriously appeared and then ascended to the top of the bottle or can of soda pop. Things got even more exciting after we figured out that we could increase this phenomenon by vigorously shaking the container up and down. We would reach the coup de gras after disrupting the aqueous solution for as long as possible, and then opening the container only to witness the eruption of this volcano-like drinking delight. The moving bubbles would now be accompanied by a fizzing sound and then they would become projectile and at times causing damage to the surfaces it came in contact with. We assumed that the bubbles continued to rise and thus we would take turns imagining where the gases went once they escaped.
Since then, I have learned a lot about this mystifying drink that many of us crave multiple times each day. Now, as a Michigander, CEO of DMC Sinai-Grace hospital and a physician, it is my responsibility to educate the community on what I have learned, ways to prevent diseases and on how to promote Health For Life. There is overwhelming evidence that soda pop does significant harm to us, yet I am not sure that the soda pop drinkers understand the extent. It is – at minimum – responsible for weight-control issues and diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cancer.
It is certainly not a novel concept that the fundamental issue leading to many of the diseases that shorten the lives of Americans is weight-control and obesity. Both regular and diet soda drinks are directly related to both of these diseases. Soda pop is the No. 1 source of added sugar and extra calories in the American diet. For example, one 20-ounce single bottle or can has 17 teaspoons of sugar. Adults who drink one or more sodas or other sugar-sweetened beverages each day are 27% more likely to be overweight or obese. In the U.S., High Fructose Corn Syrup is the major sweetener that has primarily replaced sucrose (table sugar) in the soda pop industry, which makes sugar addiction an even more serious problem. Two-thirds of all HFCS produced goes into these soft drinks. Uninformed diet pop drinkers might be surprised to learn that the artificial sweeteners actually increase cravings and lead to weight gain as opposed to their intended weight loss. Furthermore, one artificial sweetener, when consumed, is converted into formaldehyde which is a known carcinogen (a cancer-causing chemical).
Hidden Dangers of Soda Pop:
- Soda pop contains phosphoric acid, which weakens bones and rots teeth.
- The aluminum cans contain an epoxy resin called bisphenol A (BPA), which is added to keep the acids in the soda from reacting with the metal. BPA has been linked to infertility, obesity, diabetes and some reproductive cancers.
- The dyes in the soda have been linked to impaired brain function, hyperactive behavior, difficulty focusing and lack of impulse control.
- Potassium Benzoate is a preservative that can be broken down to benzene in your body. When exposed to the sun, for example, your soda becomes a carcinogen.
With the end-of-the-year holiday season approaching, it is important to remind ourselves that Americans pack on the extra pounds during the last two months of the year. One guaranteed way to decrease the likelihood of this from happening is to attack the major contributor to the immediate and long-term issues like weight-control and obesity: Soda Pop.
Join me and your DMC Sinai-Grace family in declaring November as our official Say No to Soda Pop Month. To officially pledge your support and sign up to participate in our endeavor, visit the website, http://www.sinaigrace.org/say-no-to-soda-pop.
Dr. Reginald Eadie
President
Sinai-Grace Hospital
readie@dmc.org
Great information as usual. I tell people often about the dangers of soda and sugar. However, sugar and other additives is a highly addictive substance. Eliminating the sugar / soda addiction is essential and that can be just as hard to do as getting someone to stop smoking cigarettes.
What a great post! Keep them coming Dr. Eadie, we all need to hear this.
To support Dr. Eadie’s comments, I stopped drinking “diet” pop in March 3/11, and have maintained a 40# weight loss for nearly 2 years. I noticed that I am less hungry and nibble less. I substituted 4 to 6 12 oz glasses of ice water each day and it has made a big difference.
Well I’m 100% in support of this, especially when I comes to our younger generation. I personally gave up all soda/pop 10 years ago, when I became informed of diabetes which runs on my mother’s side of family. More importantly, I gave it up because I happily transitioned to a more healthy dietary lifestyle. Yes, Anti-soda-pop and Pro-water! Especially the naturally artesian/alkaline PH balanced kind!
I haven’t been a DPS student in 24 years.. Like most kids who love to drink pop.. It rolled over into my adulthood.. Pop was my drug of choice.. It kept my suger levels spiked.. And I was packing on the pounds.. I had 2 strokes last year in May.. I knew that I had to cut them loose.. It has been almost a year and a half.. And I feel so much better.. I encourage people all the time to stop drinking pop.. So I have to set the example..
I loved my Diet Coke, no other pop would ease the craving. Last January I maden the resolution not to drink any soda…Its been 11 months! Do I miss it? Not really. But I find that I much prefer water, or when I want a little flavoring, the water enhancers like MIO help. My mother (81 yrs old) is not a big water drinker. She drinks coffee all day. I’ve got her drinking some water now using those water enhancers. Even though the Diet Coke does not have the high fructose in it like the regular pops, there are still chemicals that interfere with normal body function. I feel so much better pop free!
WELL LET ME START OUT BY SAYING. I ATTENDED THE NO POP RALLY AND I MUST SAY DR. EADIE WAS AWESOME . AND AS AN EMPLOYEE @ CHM, I FOUND THAT DR.EADIE ALONG WITH HIS STAFF WERE FAMILY ORIENTED. I WAS AMAZED AT THE RELATIONSHIP HE HAS WITH HIS STAFF. ANY HOW I PLEDGED TO NOT DRINK SODA POP FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AD I DID JUST THAT…..I HAVE NOT LOSS ANY WEGHT , BUT I FEEL BETTER. I WILL CONTINUE ON MY GOAL ( NO POP) THANK YOU DR. EADIE
Happy New Year! Just want to say thanks to you and your No Soda Pop challenge. I haven’t had any soda pop since Halloween and I thought nothing could ever tear me away from Cherry Pepsi. This challenge has assisted me in losing 8 pounds and the craving for water has increased tremendously. I no longer buy soda pop for my household, now I have to create challenge to eliminate Koolaid. Thanks so much for this challenge, it has truly made a difference in my life.
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Products that are labeled zero calories are not that promising. It’s true. There are no calories in them but to make them taste as good as they are, substitutes are added. Artificial sweeteners that come with side effects are included in the ingredients. They have to be, to redeem the flavor. Otherwise, the products will end up too awful to be a delight.You’d think you’re in the right track with artificial sweeteners. With no calories, you can say goodbye to some extra pounds in your system. You feel as if you’re doing alright. Well, you’re not. Truth be told, if you intend on losing weight through these empty calories, you are kidding yourself. Not only do they not have any dieting advantage, they, also, puncture your body with other effects.`
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