Soft Drinks

For many people there is nothing more refreshing than a cold bottle or can of their favorite soft drink. In the United States soft drinks have become America’s favorite beverages. They have become more popular than coffee, tea, and juice combined.

Soft drinks have been part of the American culture for over a century, but their popularity has increased dramatically. In fact, compared to just 25 years ago, Americans are now drinking twice as much soft drinks - an average of 56 gallons a year! That is nearly two cans a day for every man, woman, and child. Amazing as it may sound, the average American consumes more soft drinks than water.

Have you ever wondered if these drinks have any impact on your personal health? Research suggests that these soft drinks present personal health risks, both because of what they contain and what they replace in the diet.

Let’s look at some of the problems.

Sugar

Carbonated drinks are the single largest source of refined sugars in the American diet. In fact, more than one third of our sugar consumption is from soft drinks. The average drink contains about one teaspoon of sugar per once. Many people tell me they don’t eat many sweets; but when questioned further, they admit to drinking a number of sodas a day.

Sugary drinks are one reason for frequent colds and infections. Scientific evidence has shown that sugar impairs the white blood cell’s ability to fight infections. Because of this effect on the immune system, which fights off infections, I often tell people it is like sending their soldiers to battle with their hands tied behind their backs.

Because there is no fiber in soft drinks, the sugar is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, raising the blood sugar and giving a temporary boost of energy. When the blood sugar level goes up, insulin enters the bloodstream to pull the raised blood sugar back down, and energy levels drop. This sequence promotes the cycle of reaching for another and yet another soft drink or other sugary snack.

Everyone knows sugar is also one of the factors contributing to tooth decay.

Weight Gain

Because of the high sugar content soft drinks contain, there are a lot of calories and almost no other nutrition. With the average soft drink (12 oz) containing 150 calories, the typical American will take in enough calories to gain 30 pounds a year. People are often surprised when after taking their history I tell them they are malnourished. They may look very healthy. But when I know how many calories they are taking in soft drinks, I know that if they have to be limiting their intake of nutritious food to make a balanced diet. They are taking in so many calories that they have “lost their appetite.”

Diet Drinks

It is no wonder diet drinks have become so popular. But are they a good solution? They certainly do cut the calories. But studies show they may not do as well at avoiding weight gain as you would think. One study of over 75,000 women found that those who used artificial sweeteners were significantly more likely than non-users to gain weight over time. Another study found that diet soda drinkers ate more food and gained more weight than they had when they were free to drink regular sugar-sweetened soft drinks. The researchers concluded that these artificial sweeteners increase both hunger and appetite.

Chemicals

Nearly all soft drinks contain chemical additives for color, flavor, preservation, and effect. It is estimated that worldwide, people are drinking 20,6000,000 tons of chemicals from soft drinks every year! That is nearly nine pounds for every man, woman, and child.

Six of the seven most popular soft drinks contain caffeine. Just a few of the problems from caffeine are headaches, indigestion, nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, and a rapid heart rate.

Most of the drinks that do not contain caffeine still contain phosphoric acid, a powerful chemical used to etch glass. The phosphorous is eliminated through the kidneys by combining it with calcium. This contributes to the development of osteoporosis with its possibility of broken bones. It also contributes to the formation of kidney stones.

One out of five one- and two-year-old children are already consuming soft drinks. Because of their relatively small weight, the effects of the sugar and chemicals are greatly exaggerated.

What should I drink?

God has provided us with something better. Pure water is the perfect beverage. It quenches thirst, contains no calories to add unwanted weight, has no caffeine, is readily available, and it’s cheap.

It is recommended that you drink enough to keep the urine almost a clear color - about six to eight glasses for most people.

Scripture says: “Why do you spend money...for what does not satisfy?...Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters...” Isaiah 55:1

Better Older?

People want to stay young, or at least middle-aged. With the 65 and older segment getting larger in North America, what are the prospects for today’s “Golden Years,” and when does old age begin?

The magic number seems to have settled at 65. But there is an increasing trend to date people by their intellectual and social capabilities rather than by chronological age. We all know people in their mid or late 80s who are very active and mentally alert, but there are others much younger who are not so fortunate. Old age then is not defined by a number. Rather, “old age” sets in when disease and disability limit everyday tasks.

Some people claim older is better. How can that be?

It’s a matter of perspective. For physical strength, energy, and less ailments, young is better. But for increased confidence, better judgement and insight, less anxiety and more freedom, older can be better.

Don’t most people over 65 suffer from chronic illness?

Eighty percent of the 65 and over group have some kind of problem, such as high blood pressure, arthritis, or heart disease. But most of these illnesses are not incapacitating.

Premature aging and disability is largely the result of lifestyle factors, such as smoking, excessive alcohol, caffeine consumption, and the abuse of drugs. Overweight speeds up physical and sexual decline. A diet of rich refined foods and lack of regular exercise can make people look and feel old before their time.

There is some truth in the old saying, “You are as old as you think you are.” A persons attitude has a lot to do with how they are able to function.

People worry about losing their mental abilities. Isn’t forgetfulness a bad sign?

Factors other than age can affect you memory. Stress, anxiety, fast moving events, memory overload, and lack of interest relate to forgetfulness at any age. Only a few older people develop Alzheimer’s disease and other genuine senile dementias. Most people retain remarkable memory function for a long time, especially when they stay active and fit.

Nearly everyone fears losing independence and having to go to a nursing home. What are the chances of this happening?

U.S. statistics show that only 2% of people 64 to 75 years old live in nursing homes. After age 85, the figure is 20%. The vast majority of older folks never go to a nursing home.

You can not turn the calendar back. But regardless of how old your birth certificate shows you to be, you can actually become younger by making choices to improve your lifestyle. Why not start today and enjoy those years ahead!

The Flu

There has been a lot of interest in Anthrax and other potential bioterrorist diseases. Also the influenza season is about to start. The question is often asked, “I know we are living in different times, but is there anything I can do to help protect myself against these potentially devastating illnesses?” “Also, I hear people ask, How can I put the current scares in perspective? ”

Some of the advice our grandmothers gave many of is still very helpful. Grandma didn’t know about the immune system, but many of the things she suggested we now know actually help the immune system fight infections.

Some of those simple things that still work:

Get your rest - Most adults do best with 7-9 hours of rest. Children need even more.

Get your exercise - Regular exercising such as walking 30 minutes 3-5 times a week can improve your immune system besides all of the other positive benefits.

Avoid excess sugar - Sugar can paralyze the white blood cells that function to destroy invading enemies in the body. One of the most common sources of large amount of sugar is soda pop. There are 18-20 teaspoons of sugar in every 20-oz. bottle.

Avoid excess fat in your diet - fatty foods can also decrease your immune systems effeciency.

Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day - The body is 80% water and can easily become relatively dehydrated, which affects the immune system, as well as the rest of the organs.

Wash your hands frequently - Many of the causes of illness enter our bodies via our hands. It is especially helpful to wash your hands before eating and after being in public places.

These are things we have all heard in some form in the past, but most of us have room for improvement and it really is worth the effort. They can help prevent all kinds of infections.

Now let’s try to put the deaths from bioterrorism in perspective. Fortunately, so far there have been only a few deaths from bioterrorism. What are the death rates from other things that we can use for comparison?

Every 30 minutes in this country someone is killed by a drunk driver. In a sense that is an act of terror. Someone is driving a lethal weapon and you have no warning before you are struck by it. This does not include the number of injuries from these accidents.

Every year there are between 150-200 deaths from lightning strikes. That is 3-4 deaths on average every week. Your chance of dying from being struck by lightning are many time greater than dying from a bioterrorist attack.

Lets do what we can to protect our selves and keep it all in perspective.

Children at Risk

The news is not good. “Heart disease begins in childhood,” reports the National Institutes of Health. A recent examination of 360 randomly selected youngsters ages 7 to 12 revealed that 98 percent of the children already had three or more risk factors for heart disease.

But we keep hearing that people are getting healthier.

It is mainly the grown-ups who are exercising, losing weight, quitting tobacco, and becoming more health conscious.

But it is a different story for kids. “Since the early 1960s the general health of adolescents has declined,” says the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Today’s kids are flabby. They don’t have the proper cardiovascular tone. They are not physically fit. ”

Television and computers have had an impact. Time spent in front of the TV set and computers is time taken away from body building, calorie-burning physical activities such as bicycling, skating, basketball, or climbing trees. That sets the stage for excessive weight gain, which in itself is a risk factor for high blood cholesterol and heart disease.

Exercise physiologist Kate O’Shea warns that “the junior couch potato of today is the fat farm candidate of tomorrow.”

Don’t school PE programs help?

Only a few require students to take physical education in all grades. In an era of tight budgets and teacher shortages, health and physical education programs are often among the first to go.

What about children’s eating habits?

With nine out of ten food advertisements on children’s TV hawking processed foods high in sugar, fat, and salt, television significantly influences the food preferences of children from their earliest years.

Home cooked meals with families eating together are now the exception. They have been largely replaced by fast foods and engineered foods. More than half of today’s high school kids head off to fast-food chains and snack machines instead of school lunch rooms.

Any good news?

The good news is that children can be taught - and the younger they get started the better.

Here are some tips for building good health habits early in life:

• Daily exercise - preferably outdoors - for at least an hour.
• Three meals a day, at regular times, with lots of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Discourage snacks, and the child will have a better appetite for nutritious food at mealtimes. If a snack is needed, offer a piece of fresh fruit.
• Plenty of water. Remember, sodas are very high in calories and sugar.
• Control TV. The hours a child watches TV relate directly to weight gain and elevated cholesterol levels.
• Adequate rest. Most children are chronically tired - not surprising when you remember that teenagers do best on nine hours of sleep a night, and younger ones need more. Put the kids to bed early enough so they awaken naturally in time for a healthy breakfast.
• Cultivate a wide range of interests. Schedule library visits, music lessons, arts and crafts, hobbies and family outings. Children who spend time with their parents and develop deep spiritual roots experience less stress and improved mental health.
• Set a good example. The life choices you are modeling day by day are the strongest determinants of your children’s future behavior.

Is it worth the effort?

“Fitness can be fun,” says Arnold Schwarzeneggar, who at the time was President George Bush’s spokesman for the Council on Physical fitness and Sports. “Stay away from junk food, get off the couch, unplug the Nintendo, turn off the TV, and go out and get some exercise. A body is a terrible thing to waste.”