Sugar - how sweet it isn't

An excerpt from an article by Cyndi O’Meara.

  Soft drinks are the second biggest seller in Australian supermarkets, just behind cigarettes, but truckloads ahead of fruit, vegetables, and even bread and milk. If you doubt this, next time you visit your local supermarket, have a look how much shelf space is devoted to ‘soft drinks’. Usually the more space there is, the greater the seller.

It’s ironic that these drinks are called ‘soft’ drinks, when there is nothing soft about the ingredients within them. Just one ‘softie’ a day can’t hurt right? WRONG!

·          One soft drink per day increases your risk of diabetes by 85%.

·          Two or more soft drinks a week doubles the risk of pancreatic cancer.

·          People who consume at least one soft drink a day are 60% more likely to develop obesity and high blood pressure, leading to heart attacks and strokes.

 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DRINK A SOFT DRINK….

The following times may vary on whether you have drunk the soft drink with food or not. If you have your soft drink with food the times are longer, but if you drink it without food it is a rush to the blood system like no other.

 

Within the first 10 minutes of drinking a soft drink  

10 teaspoons of sugar (usually high fructose corn syrup) hits your system. This is 100 per cent of your recommended daily intake, and the only reason you don’t vomit from the overwhelming sweetness is because phosphoric acid cuts the flavour. Wait till you hear what phosphoric acid does to you!

 

Within 20 minutes of drinking a soft drink

Your blood sugar spikes and your liver responds to the resulting insulin burst by turning

massive amounts of sugar into fat. The continuing insulin burst can eventually

create insulin resistance, leading to diabetes in some people.

 

Within 40 minutes of drinking a soft drink  

Caffeine absorption is complete; your pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises, your blood vessels dilate and your liver dumps more sugar into your bloodstream.

 

Around 45 minutes after you have drunk the soft drink  

Your body increases serotonin production, which stimulates the pleasure centres of your brain – a physically identical response to that of heroin, but not as strong. So you might think this is a good thing but in reality, too much, too often, can cause anxiety and depression.

 

After 60 minutes of drinking a soft drink  

You’ll start to have a sugar crash. A sugar crash typically shows signs of lethargy and

weakness; hunger may also become noticeable, as well as sadness, which of course

brings on the need for another sugar fix.

 
WHAT’S IN A ‘SOFT’ DRINK? 

 

Phosphoric Acid:  

This can interfere with the body's ability to use calcium, leading to osteoporosis or

softening of the teeth and bones. It also neutralises the hydrochloric acid in your

stomach, which can interfere with digestion of protein especially, making it difficult to

utilise nutrients.

 

Sugar and HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup): 

It is a fact that refined sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood

pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, insulin resistance and eventually diabetes,

weight gain, premature aging and many more negative side effects. In each can of soft drink there is over 100 per cent of the recommended daily intake (RDA) of sugar.

 

Aspartame:

This is the most likely sugar substitute used in diet soft drinks. There are over 100 side effects associated with aspartame consumption including brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders, epilepsy/seizures, multiple sclerosis like symptoms, addiction, carbohydrate cravings – the list is endless. It is ironic that you’re drinking the diet soft drink because you want to lose weight or not gain weight, but the sweetener is making you want to eat!

 

Caffeine:  

Over consumption of caffeinated drinks can cause jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, vitamin and mineral depletion, breast lumps, birth defects, and perhaps some forms of cancer.

 

Tap Water:  

Tap water may contain a number of chemicals including chlorine, trihalomethanes, lead, cadmium, fluoride and various organic pollutants. Tap water is the main ingredient in bottled soft drinks. Better options are filtered water or rain water.

 

Sodium Benzoate:

Sometimes called benzoic acid, this chemical is used as a preservative in most soft

Drinks. Research shows that it causes serious cell damage.

 

WHAT ABOUT DIET DRINKS?

The elimination of soft drinks is one of the most crucial factors in dealing with many of the health problems you or your children may be suffering. The research shows that diet drinks can erode tooth enamel, stimulate the appetite and trigger cravings for sweet food. This actually means that people who consume diet soft drink put on more weight than if they had regular soft drinks. 

Pure water is a much better choice, or if you must drink a carbonated beverage, try sparkling mineral water with a squirt of fresh lime or lemon juice, or for kids, a ¼ cup of fresh juice mixed with sparkling mineral water.

 

For further information, visit Cyndi O’Meara’s website www.changinghabits.com.au

Not your typical nutritionist, Cyndi disagrees with low-fat, low-calorie diets, believes chocolate can be good for you and thinks cheating and eating yummy food is an important part of a well-balanced diet. Cyndi must be doing something right because she maintains a healthy weight and has never (in her whole life!) taken an antibiotic, pain-killer or any other form of medication. Cyndi is a passionate, determined and knowledgeable speaker on health issues and uses her education and experience to help others improve their quality of life so they too can enjoy greater health and longer lives.