Written by 
Sugar is sweet. It makes us happy. It’s a comfort food. it’s also cheap. So, what’s the big deal with sugar? After all, it’s our body’s main source of fuel. In fact, it’s the main energy source for our brain.
Lots of problems with sugar. First, it makes us fat if we eat too much. Did you know that an average American eats 135 pounds of sugar a year? Did you also know that main source of this unbelievable amount of sugar is from sugary sodas? What’s worse? Soda is related to not only obesity, but obesity leads to diabetes, heart attacks, strokes and certain cancers. If you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop a bunch of other chronic diseases like cataracts, blindness to loss of limbs due to infections…etc. Worse yet, if you have diabetes, you can shorten your lifespan by 6-7 years compared to those without diabetes.
Sugar acts as an appetite stimulant. This isn’t so good if you are trying to lose weight.
According to the USDA, 16% of calories in the typical American diet come from refined sugars and half of those calories come from beverages with added sugar. What’s more frightening is that the studies of overweight children demonstrate that these kids take in 1,000 to 2,000 calories a day from soft drinks alone.
There is a lot of controversy about the relationship between these sugary sodas and health issues. One recent study suggests that phosphoric acid in most sodas elevate our level of phosphorous. Phosphorus is an important mineral for building bone. However, if you have disproportionately high level of phosphorous in your blood then your body has to neutralize it by adding more calcium which often comes from your bone. This essentially takes calcium from your bones, making your bones weak and more vulnerable to osteoporosis and fractures. Another study says that caffeine contained in these sodas can interfere with calcium absorption, further complicating the problem.
Sugary sodas are associated with high blood pressure according to some research. Studies show that for every soda you drink, your blood pressure goes up 1.6mm in systole (when the heart contracts) and 0.8 mm during diastole (when the heart relaxes).
If you drink more than one soda a day, you are ingesting more than 400 calories a day. Essentially, adding one can of soda to your diet increases your weight by 15 pounds a year.
Soda is also bad in that it bleaches calcium from your bones, increasing your risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
What’s the lesson? Give up soda and drink more water. Decrease your sugar intake and watch your waist get slimmer.
Jennie Yoon Buchanan M.D.
P.S. I look forward to answering your questions and reading your comments. Send them directly to me at the address below:
DrYoon@PinkIsPowerful.com
