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