Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease exert a disproportionate toll on African-Americans, Latinos, and low-income Americans. These diseases are directly related to soda consumption. Any group seeking to end health disparities should make reducing soda consumption a top priority
Michael F. Jacobson, Executive Director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said in a statement released yesterday, “My guess is that the NAACP looks back with some regret at its acceptance of money from Philip Morris and other tobacco companies throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and wishes it could take back some of the favorable things the group said about those companies and its executives, the tobacco sponsorship it accepted for NAACP events, and the times it opposed raising tobacco taxes, and so on. I fear that the current leadership of the NAACP will look back with similar regret at its acceptance of money from Coca-Cola, and its subsequent willingness to oppose sensible public health measures such as the cap on soda serving sizes proposed by New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. If I were the NAACP I would return the December donation from Coca-Cola, refuse to accept future grants from Big Soda as a matter of principle, and reevaluate the position the group is taking in New York City.”
Sweetened Beverages that contain 10% high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are often available in 12 oz., with 150 calories or more, 20 oz.(250 cal. or more), and 32 oz. (550 cal. or more) sizes, evidence has indicated that when larger sizes are provided you eat (or in this case, drink) more. With only drinking two 20 ounce sodas a day, you are consuming an average of 500 empty calories. HFCS is the sweetener in most soft drinks but is also found in reconstituted fruit juices. Drinking sweetened beverages has been linked to weight gain and obesity, researchers have found that those with the highest soft drink consumption also have the highest Body Mass Index.
Water is always the best choice but if you really need a sweet fix, try some green tea sweetened with honey. Please don’t substitute HFCS sweetened drinks with artificially sweetened ones, while you will save on calories they have been linked to weight gain and other health problems. Educate yourself about what you are putting in your body and educate yourself what food manufacturers are putting in their products, then at least you are making informed decisions about your diet what effects it may have on your health.
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