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A study that was supported by the drinks industry showed there was no link between drinking fizzy
drinks and over weight kids. (Yeah right!)
However, in a recent study supported by other researchers, the findings were a little different...
drinks and over weight kids. (Yeah right!)
However, in a recent study supported by other researchers, the findings were a little different...
"But we have diet pop with no calories! Drink them! DRINK THEM!" the drink's industry scream, panicking that their profits are
flowing stickily down the drain. Yeah sure, they don't have any calories (see below), but if you think you're doing your body a
favour by drinking "diet" cola, think again. For openers, diet colas are full of harmful artificial sweeteners like aspartame (more on
this in a future report). And whether they're diet or non-diet, they all harbour this threat...
flowing stickily down the drain. Yeah sure, they don't have any calories (see below), but if you think you're doing your body a
favour by drinking "diet" cola, think again. For openers, diet colas are full of harmful artificial sweeteners like aspartame (more on
this in a future report). And whether they're diet or non-diet, they all harbour this threat...
| WHAT NOT TO DRINK? |
On another page we collated several articles that reviewed the benefits of drinking water. On this page the
articles we have included take a look at cola and some of its adverse effects. NB, we’re commenting on cola
and fizzy drinks in general not on specific brands like ‘Coca Cola’. After all, they'd like to teach the world to sing.
So they must be warm, friendly people, mustn't they?
articles we have included take a look at cola and some of its adverse effects. NB, we’re commenting on cola
and fizzy drinks in general not on specific brands like ‘Coca Cola’. After all, they'd like to teach the world to sing.
So they must be warm, friendly people, mustn't they?
In fact they were the complete OPPOSITE of what the drink's industry say. This new study (and we know which one we
believe) found that 12-year-olds who drank soft drinks regularly were more likely to be overweight than those who didn't. For
each additional daily serving of sugar-sweetened soft drink consumed during the study, the risk of obesity increased 1.6 times.
Unlike previous short term studies, this one was conducted over nineteen months, which makes the findings far more reliable.
believe) found that 12-year-olds who drank soft drinks regularly were more likely to be overweight than those who didn't. For
each additional daily serving of sugar-sweetened soft drink consumed during the study, the risk of obesity increased 1.6 times.
Unlike previous short term studies, this one was conducted over nineteen months, which makes the findings far more reliable.
Nutrition...
So lets start with this interesting (but hardly surprising) little fact....
COLA DRINKS INCREASE YOUR RISK OF OSTEOPOROSIS
All carbonated cola drinks actually boost your risk of osteoporosis. A Tufts University study found a four percent bone density loss
amongst women who drank just four or five colas a week. This new evidence, published in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, indicates that calcium leaches out of your bones to neutralise the phosphoric acid in these drinks. As your bones lose
calcium, they become light, porous, and brittle - and you become more susceptible to bone fracture and loss of mobility as you
age.
With fifty-five percent of the population at risk for osteoporosis, we should all heed the advice of Katherine Tucker, the director
of the Tufts study, who said: "If you are worried about osteoporosis, it is probably a good idea to switch to another beverage...”
All carbonated cola drinks actually boost your risk of osteoporosis. A Tufts University study found a four percent bone density loss
amongst women who drank just four or five colas a week. This new evidence, published in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, indicates that calcium leaches out of your bones to neutralise the phosphoric acid in these drinks. As your bones lose
calcium, they become light, porous, and brittle - and you become more susceptible to bone fracture and loss of mobility as you
age.
With fifty-five percent of the population at risk for osteoporosis, we should all heed the advice of Katherine Tucker, the director
of the Tufts study, who said: "If you are worried about osteoporosis, it is probably a good idea to switch to another beverage...”
ELIMINATE DIET COLA FROM YOUR DIET
If you asked people why they drink ‘diet’ cola and other drinks with artificial sweeteners, we suspect the answer would be
because they are "watching their weight".
While it is true that ‘diet’ colas have no calories, it has never been proven that they help with weight loss. In fact, many studies
have clearly shown that ‘diet’ cola may do the exact opposite; make people gain weight.
Epidemiologists at the University of Texas, presented research data to the American Diabetes Association on cola consumption.
What they had discovered was, that the more diet colas a person drinks, the more weight they were likely to gain. A CBS news
article, described the same findings in research with obese patients.
There are several theories as to why this is the case. Some think it is psychological - that diet cola drinkers eat more because they
feel they can "spare" the extra calories. Others point to the fact that artificially sweetened drinks tend to increase the appetite
unnaturally. And many believe it could be because aspartame and sucralose disrupt insulin function.
One thing we know for sure is that these products can be harmful to your health. So whether or not you're trying to lose
weight, our advice is to avoid artificial sweeteners and "diet drinks" entirely. For a healthier alternative, mix an ounce or two of
fruit juice (or, even better, low-sugar fruit-juice concentrate, which you can find at just about any health food store) with
sparkling water. To make it a bit sweeter, add a few drops of all-natural stevia.
Now, if you really love cola, then don't deny yourself entirely. No point being super healthy but miserable as sin. It may be tough,
because colas can have half the caffeine of a cup of coffee; that's a pretty addictive measure. Withdrawal symptoms from quitting
could include being irritable, bad concentration, feeling sleepy, and having a cracking headache. Better to gradually reduce how
much you drink. Try for an initial target of cutting your intake in half.
If you asked people why they drink ‘diet’ cola and other drinks with artificial sweeteners, we suspect the answer would be
because they are "watching their weight".
While it is true that ‘diet’ colas have no calories, it has never been proven that they help with weight loss. In fact, many studies
have clearly shown that ‘diet’ cola may do the exact opposite; make people gain weight.
Epidemiologists at the University of Texas, presented research data to the American Diabetes Association on cola consumption.
What they had discovered was, that the more diet colas a person drinks, the more weight they were likely to gain. A CBS news
article, described the same findings in research with obese patients.
There are several theories as to why this is the case. Some think it is psychological - that diet cola drinkers eat more because they
feel they can "spare" the extra calories. Others point to the fact that artificially sweetened drinks tend to increase the appetite
unnaturally. And many believe it could be because aspartame and sucralose disrupt insulin function.
One thing we know for sure is that these products can be harmful to your health. So whether or not you're trying to lose
weight, our advice is to avoid artificial sweeteners and "diet drinks" entirely. For a healthier alternative, mix an ounce or two of
fruit juice (or, even better, low-sugar fruit-juice concentrate, which you can find at just about any health food store) with
sparkling water. To make it a bit sweeter, add a few drops of all-natural stevia.
Now, if you really love cola, then don't deny yourself entirely. No point being super healthy but miserable as sin. It may be tough,
because colas can have half the caffeine of a cup of coffee; that's a pretty addictive measure. Withdrawal symptoms from quitting
could include being irritable, bad concentration, feeling sleepy, and having a cracking headache. Better to gradually reduce how
much you drink. Try for an initial target of cutting your intake in half.
SOME COLA TIPS
Take a look at these cola facts. (If this doesn't get you off the fizzy drinks, nothing will!)
Take a look at these cola facts. (If this doesn't get you off the fizzy drinks, nothing will!)
- The active ingredient in cola is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days. Phosphoric acid also
leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis. - In many states in the USA, the highway patrol carries two gallons of cola in the truck to remove blood from the highway
after a car accident. - You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of cola and it will be gone in two days.
- To clean a toilet - pour a can of cola into the toilet bowl and let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. The
citric acid in cola removes stains from vitreous China. - To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers - rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminium foil
dipped in cola. - To clean corrosion from car battery terminals - pour a can of cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.
- To loosen a rusted bolt - apply a cloth soaked in cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
- To remove grease from clothes - empty a can of cola into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a
regular cycle. The cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield. - To carry cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the “Hazardous Material” place cards reserved for
highly corrosive materials. - The distributors of cola have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!
FIZZY DRINKS AND BONE LOSS
A conclusion drawn from a number of studies investigating regular use of cola drinks demonstrated significant bone loss in lab rats.
But humans and rats are not exactly the same, as the drinks companies love to point out.
But it's not just rats that are at risk...
In 1994, a study of bone fractures in teenage athletes at Harvard University found a strong association between cola
consumption and bone fractures. Girls who drank cola were about five times more likely to suffer bone fractures than girls who
didn't. Apparently, phosphorous, a common ingredient in fizzy drinks, can eat away at the calcium content of your bones.
A conclusion drawn from a number of studies investigating regular use of cola drinks demonstrated significant bone loss in lab rats.
But humans and rats are not exactly the same, as the drinks companies love to point out.
But it's not just rats that are at risk...
In 1994, a study of bone fractures in teenage athletes at Harvard University found a strong association between cola
consumption and bone fractures. Girls who drank cola were about five times more likely to suffer bone fractures than girls who
didn't. Apparently, phosphorous, a common ingredient in fizzy drinks, can eat away at the calcium content of your bones.
Now our question is...
| Would you like a cola or a glass of water? |
And, in another study on fzzy drinks and weight loss, Researchers from the University of North Carolina had 118 overweight
women substitute water for their normal sugary drinks. As a result, these women consumed fewer calories over the course of the
day. In fact, they eliminated a total of 200 calories per day by drinking water instead of sweetened sodas or juices.
Two hundred fewer calories per day adds up to almost 21 pounds of fat that you can lose in a year!
women substitute water for their normal sugary drinks. As a result, these women consumed fewer calories over the course of the
day. In fact, they eliminated a total of 200 calories per day by drinking water instead of sweetened sodas or juices.
Two hundred fewer calories per day adds up to almost 21 pounds of fat that you can lose in a year!
The Gaia Infostore
| © Copyright 2008 - Active Recovery - All Rights Reserved. The Gaia Centre for Holistic Therapy, 17 Frederick Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3BH email: info@gaiaholistics.co.uk Tel: 01509 551513 |
