posted Nov 10, 2015, 6:39 AM by Doug Muha
Counselor Notes 6
March 30,
2012
Soda
Many people heard the news story about Coke and Pepsi changing their
coloring to avoid having to put a warning label on their product. (See: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/mar/09/coke-pepsi-recipe-change-avoid-cancer-warning
) While that may be a good thing, parents should still take a close look at
soda before allowing their children to use it for more than an occasional
treat. (It does seem that as a nation we are using it for more than an
occasional treat.) We may even want to reconsider our own soda consumption.
Here are some things to think about as you steer your child's (children's) and
your own drink choices: Colas Contain
Phosphoric Acid
Calcium:
- “Calcium is a second messenger in neuronal membranes, which means it acts
like a traffic signal for uptake and release of neurotransmitters.” (The A.D.D.
Nutrition Solution by Marcia Zimmerman, p. 148)
- “…calcium regulates the speed, intensity, and clarity of every message that
passes between brain cells.” (The A.D.D. Nutrition Solution by Marcia
Zimmerman, p. 148)
- Calcium deficiency is associated with depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/91388-calcium-depression/
- Increasing calcium intake may help with PMS. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122937831273108391.html
Zinc:
- “On the basis of the evidence that vesicular zinc may be essential to the
functions of the amygdala....” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11988235
The amygdala “is involved in the processing of emotions such as fear, anger and
pleasure. The amygdala is also responsible for determining what memories are
stored and where the memories are stored in the brain. It is thought that this
determination is based on how huge an emotional response an event invokes http://biology.about.com/od/anatomy/p/Amygdala.htm
Magnesium:
Sodas Contribute To Our
Weight Issues
- “... the odds of becoming obese increased 60% for each can or glass a day of
sugar-sweetened soft drinks.” http://www.prevention.com/health/diabetes/drinking-soda-4-reasons-stop-soda-consumption?page=2
- “... we're drinking 18 ounces of liquid candy daily, we're adding about 225
calories to our diet. Over the course of a month, that's almost 7,000
additional calories, which can easily translate to a 2 pound gain. Over a year,
these drinks could be adding 24 pounds to our bottom line.” http://www.prevention.com/health/diabetes/drinking-soda-4-reasons-stop-soda-consumption?page=2
- “Naturally, consuming extra calories from added sugar will lead to weight
gain. But even diet soda may lead to unhealthy pounds. While the research is not
yet conclusive, recent data demonstrated an association between regularly
drinking diet soda and larger waist lines.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/14/soda-and-heart-attacks_n_1343163.html?1331729185&ref=health-fitness#s779402&title=Weight_Gain_
- “… a 25-year look at health habits, study author Sharon Fowler, an
epidemiologist at the center, found that the more diet sodas a person drank, the
greater his or her risk of becoming overweight. “ http://www.prevention.com/health/diabetes/drinking-soda-4-reasons-stop-soda-consumption#ixzz1qSiCidyN
Sodas May Negatively Impact
Heart Health
Most Sodas Contain High
Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
Soda Is Bad For Your
Teeth
Sodas Promote
Diabetes
Sweeteners in Diet Soda
MAY Be Unhealthy
- At least one web site is reporting that when aspartame (a sweetener in many
diet sodas) gets above 85 degrees F, that it changes into neurotoxic
substances. This line of thinking questions whether aspartame plays a role in
Gulf War Syndrome (the sodas got too hot out in the desert) See: http://aspartame.tripod.com/gulfwar.htm
Other sites have it connected to some cases of breast cancer. http://www.naturalnews.com/021920.html
Green Tea Is A Better
Alternative
I love a good cola as much as the next person. (Probably more!) I am
going to work hard to make it an occasional treat rather than a regular habit
though.
Doug Muha Ed.S. School Counselor
Waverly Elementary School |
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