I've warned people about the dangers of soda for more than 16 years, and the list of reasons to avoid the beverage just keeps getting longer. Americans in particular get most of their daily calories from sugar, primarily in the form of high fructose com syrup (HFCS) in soda and other sweetened beverages. Half of the US population over the age of two consumes sugary drinks on a daily basis.1 and this figure docs not even include 100% fniit juices, flavored milk, or sweetened teas, all of which arc sugary too. so the figure is actually even higher. Mam people mistakenly believe that as long as you drink fniit juice, then its healthy even though it's sweet. This is a dangerous misconception, though, and it fuels the rising rates of weight gain, obesity, fatty liver disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes in the United States and other developed nations. Ifs important to realize that sugary ! drinks, such as soda and even fresh-squeezed fmit juice, contain fructose, which has been identified as one of the primary culprits in the meteoric rise of obesity and related health problems—in large part due to its ability to turn on your "fat switch." So-called "enhanced" water products are another source of hidden fmctosc and/or artificial sweeteners, which can be even worse for your health than sugar. I recommend drinking plenty of pure water as your primary beverage of choice instead. Sugary Drinks Linked to 180.000 Deaths Annually Preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition. Physical Activity, and Metabolism 2013 Scientific Sessions (EPI/NPAM) suggests sugary beverages arc to blame for about 183.000 deaths worldwide each) car. including 133.000 diabetes deaths. 44.000 heart disease deaths, and 6.000 cancer deaths. Among the 35 largest countries in the world. Mexico had the highest death rates associated with sugary beverage consumption. In Mexico, the average consumption of sugary beverages was 24 ounces per day. Bangladesh had the lowest death rates. The US ranked third with an estimated 25.000 annual deaths2 from sweetened drinks.1 (Main might have expected the US to come in first place, but remember that American processed foods contain far more sugars than other nations, so Americans also consume a lot of "hidden" sugar in products other than beverages.) Interestingly, and quite disturbingly, the death rates associated with sweetened beverages were highest in those under the age of 45. According to the featured article:4 "[U'Jhile the connection between excess sugar and chronic disease is well-known, the latest research is the first to quantify deaths correlated with sugared drinks worldwide... To reach their conclusion, the scientists analyzed data from the 2010 Global Burden of Diseases Study and recorded how much sugar-sweetened beverages people drank, dividing up the data by age and sex. Then, they figured out how the various amount corresponded to obesity rates. Lastly, they calculated how much obesity affected diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers and determined the mortality rates from these diseases, ending up with the number of deaths that could be attributed to consuming sugary beverages by age and sex." Coauthor Dr. Gitanjali Singh told Time magazine: "Our findings should push policy makers world-wide to make effective policies to reduce consumption of sugary beverages, such as taxation, mass-media campaigns, and reducing availability of these drinks...Individuals should drink fewer sugary beverages and encourage their family and friends to do the same. " As you may recall. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently tried to ban the sale of sugary beverages over 16 ounces in restaurants, food carts, and theaters, but the day before the ban was scheduled to go into effect, a New York State Supreme Court justice overturned it.5 Bloomberg has stated he intends to appeal the decision. Personally. I believe the most appropriate strategy is to educate people on the facts about sugar consumption and encourage personal responsibility. Taxation and eliminating sweet drinks from schools and other venues may have a beneficial effect, but to really put a dent in the problem, you need to be properly informed about the consequences of your choices. Voting with your pockctbook and avoiding purchasing these products w ill cause them to disappear from the marketplace as companies w ill not produce items that dont sell. Scientific Statement from American Heart Association about Sugar Consumption and Heart Disease Risk In 2009. the American Heart Association (AHA) issued a scientific statement'1 about sugar intake and heart health, pointing out that there is evidence for a relationship between the two. According to the abstract: "High intakes of dietary sugars in the setting of a worldwide pandemic of obesity and cardio\ ascular disease have heightened concerns about the adverse effects of excessive consumption of sugars. In 2001 to 2004. the usual intake of added sugars for Americans was 22.2 teaspoons per day (355 calorics per day). Between 1970 and 2005. average annual availability of sugars/added sugars increased by 19%. which added 76 calorics to Americans" average daily energy intake. Soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages are the priman source of added sugars in Americans" diets. Excessive consumption of sugars lias been linked with several metabolic abnonnalities and adverse health conditions, as well as shortfalls of essential nutrients... [T|hc American Heart Association recommends reductions in the intake of added sugars. A prudent upper limit of intake is half of the discretionary caloric allowance, which for most American women is no more than 100 calories per day and for most American men is no more than 150 calorics per day from added sugars." How Much Sugar Do You Eat or Drink Each Day? Let"s start with soda. One hundred calories isn't much. Just one 12-ouncc regular soda contains about 140 calories, which is the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar. Similarly, one 8-ounce glass of orange juice has about eight full teaspoons of sugar. and at least 50 percent of that sugar is fnictose. Drinking just one 8-ouncc glass of orange juice will wallop your system with about 25 grams of fnictose. which is more than you should have the entire day. Fnictose has been identified as one of the primary culprits in the meteoric rise of obesity and related health problems, and while the majority of the problem is caused by the large quantities of high fnictose corn synip added to so many processed foods and sweetened beverages, naturally occurring fnictose in large amounts of fniit juice is also a problem. Fnictose is also a likely culprit behind the millions of US children stniggling with non-alcoholic liver disease, which is caused by a build-up of fat within liver cells. Fructose is very hard on your liver, in much the same way as drinking alcohol. Around 100 years ago. the average American consumed a mere 15 grams of fmctose a day. primarily in the form of whole fniit. One hundred years later, one-fourth of Americans arc consuming more than 135 grams per day (that's over a quarter of a pound!). largely in the form of soda and other sweetened beverages. Fmctose at 15 grams a day is unlikely to do much harm (unless you suffer from high uric acid levels). However, at nearly 10 times that amount it becomes a MAJOR cause of obesity and nearly all chronic degenerative diseases. As a standard recommendation. I strongly advise keeping your total fmctose consumption below 25 grams per day. However, for most people it would actually be wise to limit your fruit fmctose to 15 grams or less, as it is virtually guaranteed that you will consume "hidden" sources of fnictosc from most beverages and just about any processed food you might cat. Don"t Fall for the Latest ■'Designer Water" Fad As a general rule. I advise drinking water as your primary form of beverage. Many simply do not drink enough water these days. But don"t be fooled by slick marketing. There are a number of "designer water" products available, and none of them can really beat plain, pure water. For example, on April 1. Coca-Cola released its latest enhanced water product called "Fruirwater." which is described as "a great tasting, naturally flavored zero caloric sparking watcrbcvcragc."" Despite its name, the product does not contain any juice. Rather it's sweetened with sucralose and "natural fniit flavors." Sucralose (Splcnda) is an artificial sweetener that, like aspartame, is associated with a host of side effects, including: Gastrointestinal problems Seizures, dizziness, and migraines • Blurred vision Allergic reactions Blood sugar increases and weight gain Artificialh Sweetened Water Is a Recipe for Poor Health Different artificial sw eeteners have been found to wreak havoc in a number of different ways. Aspartame. for example, lias a long list of studies indicating its harmful effects, ranging from brain damage to pre-term delivery. Sucralosc has been found to be particularly damaging to your intestines. A study11 published in 2008 found that sucralosc: Reduces the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent Increases the pH level in your intestines Affects a glycoprotcin in your body that can have crucial health effects, particularly if you" re on certain medications like chemotherapy, or treatments for AIDS and certain heart conditions In response to this study. James Turner, chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health, issued the following statement:1' "The report makes it clear that the artificial sweetener Splemla and its key component sucralose pose a threat to the people who consume the product. Hundreds of consumers have complained to us about side effects from using Splenda and this study... confirms that the chemicals in the little yellow package should carry a big red Morning label. " That was nearly five years ago. yet mam arc still in the dark about these health risks. Having healthy gut flora is absolutely vital for your optimal health, so. clearly, any product that can destroy up to half of your healthy intestinal bacteria can pose a critical risk to your health! Many arc already deficient in healthy bacteria due to consuming too many highly processed foods. This is w In I recommend eating fermented vegetables every day. or at the very least taking a high quality probiotic. Believe me. if you continuously destroy up to 50 percent of your gut flora by regularly consuming sucralose. then poor health is virtually guaranteed. So please, do not make "Fruitwatcr" a staple drink thinking you"re doing something beneficial for your health...Remember, pure water is a zero calorie drink. You cannot find a beverage that contains fewer calorics. If you think about it. why on earth would you choose artificially sweetened water over regular mineral water? If you want some flavor, just squeeze a little bit of fresh lemon or lime into mineral water as they have virtually no fmctosc. Unfortunately, most public health agencies and nutritionists in the United States still recommend these toxic artificial sweeteners as acceptable and even preferred alternatives to sugar, which is at best confusing and at worst seriously damaging the health of those who listen to this well-intentioned but foolish advice. Contrary to popular belief, research lias shown tliat artificial sweeteners can stimulate your appetite, increase carbohydrate cravings, and stimulate fat storage and weight gain. In fact, diet sodas may actually double your risk of obesity—so much for being an ally in the battle against the bulge. The Case Against Bottled Waters While we're on the subject of commercially available water products, let me remind you that bottled water in general is a bad idea. Not only are you paying about 1.900 percent more for the same or similar water you get straight from your tap. water stored in plastic bottles has other health risks as well. The plastic often used to make water bottles contains a variety of health-harming chemicals that can easily leach out and contaminate the water, such as: Cancer-causing PFOAs PBDEs (flame rctardant chemicals), which have been linked to reproductive problems and altered thyroid levels The reproductive toxins, phthalatcs BPA. which disnipts the endocrine system by mimicking the female hormone estrogen If you leave your water bottle in a hot car. or reuse it. your exposure is magnified because heat and stress increase the amount of chemicals that leach out of the plastic. So the container your water comes in needs to receive just as much attention as the water itself, and plastic is simply not a wise choice from a health perspective, not to mention the extreme amounts of toxic waste produced! What's the Healthiest Beverage You Can Drink? Sweetened beverages sweetened with sugar. HFCS. naturally occurring fnictose. or artificial sweeteners are among the worst culprits in the fight against obesity and related health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease, just to name a few. Remember that sweetened beverages also include flavored milk products, bottled teas, and ■"enhanced" water products. Ditching all of these types of beverages can go a long way toward reducing your risk for chronic health problems and weight gain. So what should you drink? Your best, most cost effective choice is to drink filtered tap water. The caveat though is to make sure you filter your tap water. I"vc written a large number of articles on the hazards of tap water, from fluoride to dangerous chemicals and dmgs. as well as toxic disinfection byproducts and heavy metals, so having a good filtration system in place is more of a necessity than a luxury in most areas. Remember, nothing beats pure water when it comes to sen ing your body" s needs. If you really feel the urge for a carbonated beverage, try sparkling mineral water with a squirt of lime or lemon juice. Another option to consider is to bottle your own water from a gravity-fed spring. There's a great website called FindaSpring. com where you can find natural springs in your area. This is a great way to get back to nature and teach your children about health and the sources of clean water. The best part is that most of these spring water sources arc free! Just remember to take cither clear polyethylene or glass containers to collect the water so no unsafe chemicals can contaminate your water on the way home. If you choose to use glass bottles, be sure to wrap them in towels to keep them from breaking in the car. References: 1. CNN August 31. 2011 2. WcbMD.com March 19. 2013 3. CNN March 19. 2013 4. Time magazine March 20. 2013 5. New York Daily News March 11. 2013 6. Circulation August 24. 2009 [Epub ahead of print] 7. FoodNavigator-USA.com March 19. 2013 8. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 2008:71(21):1415-29 9. GlobeNewsWire.com September 22, 2008 Dr. Joseph Mercola is a Chicago-based osteopathic physician armed with more Ihan 20 years of clinical experience. In 1997. he founded Mercola.com. which is now one of the leading natural heallh websites in the world. Please visit Mercola.com for more information on Dr. Mercola.
