Thirsty? Stay Away From Soft Drinks

I found the article posted below to be interesting for several reasons. It raises questions about the safety and wisdom of consuming carbonated soft drinks, and for good reasons. The hazards of these beverages are many, with this article concentrating on the harmful effects of phosphoric acid as it relates to bone loss. Phosphoric acid in combination with the high amounts of sugar in many soft drinks are also major factors in tooth decay, especially amongst youngsters, the age group with the largest per capita consumption of sodas in the US.

The soft drink industry has done their homework and identified young people as their main target market. As I have mentioned before on this blog, it is particularly shameful the way they push the latest fad in soft drinks - high energy beverages loaded with caffeine that have the look and taste of alcohol.

The only beverage that the body needs and wants for health is water. Many chemical reactions in the body depend on water, and it is a factor itself in numerous biochemical reactions. Water availability is crucial to cells, to the fluid surrounding the cells called interstitial fluids (fluids that surround joints, muscles, and organs), and also to the matrix of the blood. We need to be teaching our children the joys of drinking pure, clean water, and how necessary and beneficial this habit can be to achieving and maintaining wellness. Sometimes it helps to spice up the taste of water a bit by adding a slice of organic lemon and a bit of organic honey, which also provides the added benefit of helping to keep the body's pH levels in balance.

The Nationwide Food Consumption Surveys have indicated that a portion of the population may be mildly dehydrated. Several factors may increase the likelihood of chronic, mild dehydration, including a poor thirst mechanism, dissatisfaction with the taste of water, consumption of caffeine and alcohol, exercise, and environmental conditions. Dehydration of as little as 2% loss of body weight results in impaired physiological and performance responses. Water consumption can have an effect on the risk of urinary stone disease, cancers of the breast, colon and urinary tract, childhood and adolescent obesity, mitral valve prolapse, salivary gland function, and overall health in the elderly. Fluids fill every space in cells and between them. As the primary fluid in the body, water serves as a solvent for minerals, vitamins, amino acids, glucose, and many other nutrients. Water also plays a key role in the digestion, absorption, transportation, and use of nutrients. Water is the medium for the sole elimination of toxins and waste products, and whole body thermoregulation is critically dependent on it. From energy production to join lubrication to reproduction, there is no system in the body that does not depend on water. (Kleiner SM 1999)

One more thing. Make sure that the water you drink is stored in glass or stainless steel. Plastics, especially plastic water bottles, leach chemicals into the water. Pure water is important so take care to store it properly.

Cola May Be Bad to the Bones
Research suggests the beverage contributes to osteoporosis
By Serena Gordon
Posted 4/26/08

SATURDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) - While enjoying a cola or two every day might seem harmless enough, recent research suggests that those tasty drinks could be compromising your bone health.

"There is enough evidence that high consumption of soda and carbonated beverages is associated with somewhat lower bone mass in children, and that's a real concern and people should be aware of it," said Dr. Lawrence Raisz, director of the University of Connecticut Center for Osteoporosis.

The exact mechanism behind the problem isn't clear, but experts believe that drinking soda -- particularly colas -- affects bone density in several ways. One reason may be that people who drink colas are simply less likely to get enough calcium and vitamin D in their diets, because the soda is replacing more nutritious beverages, such as milk or calcium-fortified juice.

Or, it could be related to the caffeine in colas, because caffeine has been linked to a higher risk of osteoporosis.

The third possible explanation focuses on one of the ingredients found in colas: phosphoric acid.

Phosphoric acid can cause an imbalance in the body as the body seeks to neutralize the acid with calcium. If there isn't enough calcium in the diet, the body will take calcium from the bones.

"Phosphate is in milk, but milk also contains calcium and vitamin D. In soft drinks, there is just phosphoric acid and no calcium. Extra overzealous drinking may lead to a phosphoric acid imbalance, and if there's not enough calcium, the body goes to the bones to restore the balance," explained Dr. Primal Kaur, director of the Osteoporosis Center at Temple University Health Sciences Center in Philadelphia.

Low levels of calcium are associated with the development of osteoporosis, a disease that thins the bones so much that they're at risk of fracture. More than half of Americans, especially postmenopausal women, have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

In a study that included more than 2,500 people with an average age of about 60, researchers from Tufts University found that cola consumption by women was associated with lower bone mineral density at three hip sites, regardless of age, menopause, total calcium and vitamin D intake. The women reported drinking an average of five carbonated drinks a week, four of which were colas.

There was less of a problem with decaffeinated cola, but the findings were similar for diet soft drinks. The researchers didn't find an association between cola drinking and lower bone mass in men.

Results of the study were published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

"Moderation is really important. If you really like soft drinks, you don't need to take them out of your diet completely, but limit yourself to one or two glasses" a week, Kaur said.

And, she added, make sure you're getting enough calcium and vitamin D to protect your bone health. Vitamin D needs vary by age, and where you live, so check with your doctor to find out how much vitamin D you should be consuming each day. Kaur said that if you're not getting at least 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily from your diet, you should take a calcium supplement to ensure you're getting adequate amounts of the mineral.

Another important way to prevent osteoporosis, according to Raisz, is to exercise.

"The standard recommendation is a half an hour a day for adults and an hour a day for kids, but anything is better than nothing," he said. "Try to walk at least a half a mile a day, and engage in a weight-bearing exercise of some sort."

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080426/cola-may-be-bad-to-the-bones_print.htm