By Kac Young PhD, ND, DCH
Got your attention? Good because this is important. Drinking sodas can lead to death and disease, period. Just look at the data: A new study from Europe suggests that, Drinking one 12-ounce sugar-sweetened soft drink a day can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by 22%.
• A recent study from France found a direct link between drinking diet soda (and regular soda) and increased risk for type 2 diabetes in women.
• Researchers say the increased risk of diabetes among sugar-sweetened soft-drink consumers in Europe mirrors that seen in a meta-analysis conducted in North America, which found a 25% increased risk of type 2 diabetes associated with a 12-oz daily increment of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.
• A larger, international study, reports that slurping back large amounts of sugary beverages was associated with an increased body-mass index (BMI), which in turn was linked with BMI-related deaths from diabetes, CVD, and cancer.
Specifically, the researchers found that in 2010, 132 000 deaths from diabetes, 44 000 deaths from CVD, and 6000 deaths from cancer in the world could be attributed to drinking sugar-sweetened soft drinks, fruit juice, or sports beverages.
Hellooooooo! Aren’t those statistics staggering? And yet, there are those among us who want to fight for the right to kill themselves with sugary soft drinks! Don’t be one of them.
“But my kids love sodas,” you cry. Well if you love your kids you’ll give them something different than the high fructose, corn-syrup infused OTC sodas, pops and juice drinks that cause disease.
The American Heart Association recommends that you consume no more than 450 calories (36 ounces) of sugar-sweetened beverages a week.
In the US, the watchdog group Centers for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has petitioned authorities to regulate sugar-sweetened beverages, saying they are hazardous to human health and need to be regulated.
Here’s how you can start the switch at home. It’s a simple 3-step process that can reduce your family’s vulnerability to type 2 diabetes, cardio vascular disease, cancer and obesity.
#1. Summon your family and tell them about the sugars and corn syrup hidden in sodas. Pull up this site and talk about it: http://www.sugarstacks.com/beverages.htm
#2. Discuss these points:
How is sugar used by the body?
Sugar gives the body energy. Actually, it is the only source of energy for the brain and red blood cells. Each gram of sugar contains 4 calories. Unlike complex carbohydrates, sugars are digested quickly and are easily broken down into glucose, which is then used for energy. If a lot of sugar is eaten at one time, blood sugar levels can spike, which can increase the risk for developing diabetes.
How much sugar do I need in my diet?
Limiting the amount of sugar in the diet is important to your health. Sugar should account for fewer than 10% of your daily calories. This equates to 200 calories of sugar (50g) for a person eating 2000 calories a day.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this article shortly…..
– Kac Young , a former television director and producer, earned her PhD. in Natural Health and is a Doctor of both Clinical Hypnotherapy and Naturopathy. While earning her Doctorates in Natural Health and Naturopathy, she completed 36 courses in nutrition from Baylor University. She is the author of 10 books. Her flagship company, Heart Easy, is a system of nutritionally sound, delicious meals that promote heart health, long life and great taste. Traditional recipes are turned into heart healthy meals that anyone can make. The health results are outstanding. Learn more http://www.HeartEasy.com