Despite the fact that sugary beverages such as pop and soft drinks have had detrimental impacts on both personal health and the environment, their consumption has resulted in an increase in obesity cases and diabetes among children.
Soft drinks and carbonated beverages can have various detrimental impacts on our bodies. Multiple reasons exist to explain why soda is hazardous to our health, and consuming it regularly can result in adverse consequences for our bodies. Essentially, soda is essentially sugary water with additional flavors, rendering it highly unhealthy. Consistently consuming sodas can contribute to both obesity and diabetes. According to the Webster Dictionary, obesity is defined as having an excess of body fat.
According to Emily Main, a writer for the health website Rodale, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide guidelines for the average weight range of an adult who is five foot nine inches tall. The CDC defines a healthy weight as ranging from 125 pounds to 168 pounds. Weighing between 169 pounds and 202 pounds is considered overweight. Obesity is defined as weighing 203lbs or more.
According to the CDC, approximately 26 million Americans had diabetes in 2011, resulting in nearly 230,000 deaths. Recent research from Denmark showed that consuming non-diet soft drinks can lead to a significant increase in liver fat, which is associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. The study demonstrated that individuals who consumed one soda daily for six months saw their liver fat increase by 132-142%. This issue is worsened by the fact that most Americans consume more than one can of soda per day, increasing the health risks. While it is well-known that soda contains sugar, diet soda can also contribute to weight gain. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center found that out of 475 adults observed over ten years, those who drank diet soda experienced a 70% increase in waist size. Additionally, individuals who drank over one diet soda per day had their waist size increase by a shocking 500%.
The liver converts excessive consumption of glucose or sugar into body fat, leading to negative and unhealthy effects on the human body. Furthermore, soft drinks with brown coloring contain chemicals such as 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole, which have been associated with cancer. Animal testing carried out by the CDC and FDA demonstrated that even small amounts of these chemicals – as low as sixteen micrograms – can elevate the risk of cancer.
Both diet and regular brown sodas contain a significant amount, up to 200 micrograms, in a single twenty ounce bottle. This quantity is more than twelve times the harmful dose and can enhance the likelihood of cancer cell growth. Moreover, both variants of sodas include phosphates and phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid is a mild acid that imparts the tangy zesty flavor and serves as a preservative to extend shelf life.
A study published in the FASEB Journal in 2010 discovered that excessive intake of phosphates and phosphoric acids, commonly present in dairy and meats, can result in complications like heart problems, kidney issues, and osteoporosis. Moreover, the study revealed that elevated levels of phosphates had adverse effects on lab rats, causing them to have a lifespan five weeks shorter than rats with normal phosphate levels. Considering these findings, it is worrisome that canning plants and manufacturers are increasingly utilizing acids in soda production.
Environmental concerns surround artificial sweeteners, including acesulfame K, sucralose, and saccharin. Although the impact on human health is uncertain, research suggests that these sweeteners used in diet sodas do not break down when consumed. In 2009, Swiss scientists investigated water treatment facilities across the nation and found trace amounts of these sweeteners. While there is no definitive proof of harm to humans, signs indicate possible effects on wildlife residing near bodies of water.
The negative effects of sodas not only impact humans but also animals. Mountain Dew, a specific brand, has caused significant issues among adolescents and teens. This has led to the consideration of labeling it as a medical condition known as “Mountain Dew Mouth” or “Mountain Dew Mind.” The excessive amount of sugar in Mountain Dew results in dental cavities for teenagers. NBC’s Today Show website briefly discussed the health concerns related to Mountain Dew. One concerning ingredient is brominated vegetable oil (BVO), which is added to prevent flavor separation but is actually an industrial chemical used as a flame retardant in plastics. Consuming BVO in large quantities can lead to memory loss and nerve disorders. It is also found in other citrus-based soft drinks and sports beverages. Researchers suspect that like brominated flame retardants found in furniture foam, this chemical accumulates in body fat and may cause behavioral issues, infertility, and heart muscle lesions over time (Today 1).
In Tara Carson’s article on LiveStrong.com, it is argued that sodas can be deemed nutritious because they contain corn as a significant component. Carson mentions that having 1 cup of corn contributes 125 calories, which is roughly 6% of the recommended daily intake. By adding low-calorie and nutritious foods such as corn to your diet, you can effectively control weight and decrease the chances of gaining unhealthy weight.
Maintaining a healthy weight is difficult in the United States, where 66% of Americans are overweight or obese (Carson 1). A single serving of corn (1 cup) provides both protein and fiber, which are crucial for muscle growth. This nutritious choice contains 4.7g of protein and 3g of fiber. The significance of corn is emphasized by the fact that organic corn farmers produce about 160,000 ears per acre. However, it is important to note that approximately 90% of all U.S.-grown corn is genetically modified (GMOs), which raises concerns. GMO crops are altered to resist pesticides and generate their own pesticides, but their impact on humans remains uncertain. Studies on animals have linked GMO consumption to accelerated aging, infertility, and damage to the digestive tract. Furthermore, before transitioning from soda cans to plastic bottles, there is another environmental issue that must be considered.
Every year, around 1,000 animals die because of pollution caused by plastic bottles. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the Pacific Ocean, is slowly turning into a landfill instead of an ocean. Close to the Pacific Ocean, nearly 20,000 plastic bottles and their packaging rings have been found. If these bottles were placed end-to-end, they would reach from Earth to the moon and back. Additionally, consuming too much caffeine from drinks like sodas, tea, and coffee can lead to frequent or excessive urination.
In his article titled “9 Health Risks of Drinking Pop,” Jake Butler from Yahoo Shine addresses the health risks linked to consuming soda pop. He points out that soda pop contains caffeine, which functions as a natural diuretic and enhances urine production. This diuretic impact is comparable to tea and coffee. However, if an individual regularly urinates without increasing their water intake, it can lead to dehydration. Therefore, it is recommended to reconsider choosing soda pop as a thirst quencher since it may worsen thirst (Butler 1).
Both the soda and its containers present a substantial health risk. The aluminum cans used to package soda have an inner coating of bisphenol A or BPA, which prevents a reaction between the acidic soda and the metal can. According to the CDC, BPA can result in complications like infertility, diabetes, and obesity. In an article titled “Why Soda Ban Will Work In Fight Against Obesity,” Nadia Arumugam explains that obesity causes nearly six thousand deaths annually among New Yorkers, surpassing all other health issues except smoking (Arumugam 1).
Both Pepsi and Coke currently use cans that are lined with BPA, a substance that has been associated with certain forms of cancer. Neither company has a plant that is completely free from BPA. After considering eleven persuasive reasons why soda is detrimental to humans, animals, and the environment, I strongly support the government’s regulation of the materials and chemicals used in sodas. We have only one life to live, and there is no justification for jeopardizing our health by consuming a mere eight ounce can of sugary soda when healthier options like apple juice, milk, and water are readily available.
