Soda. It has become the four-letter word of beverages
. Of all the drinks on the market, soda probably has the worst reputation. Science and medical research point their collective finger at soda, and blame it for everything from diabetes to tooth decay, hyperactivity to childhood obesity. But is soda really that bad for you?
When asked if soda is inherently unhealthy for people, board-certified nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS, said, "Yes. Simple, unequivocal answer, yes. Yup. Affirmative. Absolutely." What's so unhealthy about many Americans' favorite beverage?
To get to the truth, let's start with the ingredients. The average cola contains carbonated water, caramel color, natural flavors, caffeine, phosphoric acid and high-fructose corn syrup. Carbonated water is plain water infused with carbon dioxide, which creates the bubbles. Caramel color is a natural additive that tints food products, providing the familiar color consumers expect to see. Natural flavors are often of the citrus variety and added for taste. All of these are simple, harmless ingredients. Next is caffeine, a diuretic and stimulant known to be addictive.
What's left on the list of ingredients is what solidifies soda's bad name: sugar. Phosphoric acid is a chemical that adds a tangy or sour flavor by breaking down starches into sugar. According to Bowden, we should consume as little sugar as possible, especially refined sugar. "Zero would be a bull's-eye but is pretty much an unobtainable goal," says Bowden.
Why is it unobtainable? Because many products on supermarket shelves contain the final ingredient on our soda list: high-fructose corn syrup.
'Most horrific ingredient'
"It's included because it is a way cheaper form of sweetener than anything else," says Bowden. "It is also one of the single most horrific ingredients in the food supply." Adding high-fructose corn syrup to foods provides little or no nutrition and but lots of calories.
If this is the case, then what about diet soda: Does it help or hinder weight loss? "There's no hard-core scientific evidence that it hinders," says Bowden. "But there is a ton of anecdotal information and intelligent observation that leads one to think that might be so.
"New research shows that noncaloric food and beverages deregulate our innate ability to judge caloric intake. Secondly, there's the psychological part: Many people subconsciously think they're taking in less calories by drinking these crappy drinks and then subconsciously allow themselves more food.
"Third, there is some suspicion among nutritional scientists that sweet tastes, through a Pavlovian conditioning method, might signal insulin to release even though there are no actual calories or sugar. This is a theory I think has a lot of merit," he says.
Taking all of this into consideration, soda just doesn't add up to be a beneficial drink. Even the label on a can states that it is "not a significant source of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron."
Now that you have the facts and you're staring at a month's supply of soda you just bought, don't panic. Your purchase need not go to waste. According to numerous household cleaning Web sites, soda can clean your toilet, eliminate rust from a car bumper and remove grease from clothing. We're not kidding!
Reviewed by Susan Janoff, MS RD LD/N
Do yourself a favor and drink water. Soda has been supported with millions of dollars in advertisements. Water has been supported by millions of years by life and nature.
