by William Menna

Created on: December 20, 2009

Americans love their soda and they do so to a fault.  Soda is nothing more than water, sugar, and calories, but the average person drinks between 40 and 50 gallons of soda every year.  If consumed only occasionally, the effects of soda on the body are minimal.  However, when soda is a regular part of a diet, the effects of soda on the body can include obesity, diabetes, and even reduced bone density.

Calling soda “sugar water” is more than just a witticism - the average can of soda contains more than 40 grams of sugar.  Meanwhile, the American Heart Association recommends that adults consume no more than 37 grams of sugar per day (the group recommends that women limit their sugar intake to no more than 25 grams per day).  Just one can of soda can meet or surpass the AHA’s recommended daily limit of sugar.

Soda consumption can be linked to the rise in obesity.  A study by UCLA and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy found that adults who drink soda every day are significantly more likely to suffer from obesity than people who do not regularly drink soda.  The rise in obesity coincides with the increased prevalence of soda

The effects of soda on the body may include an increased risk of diabetes.  The link between high levels of soda consumption and diabetes has much to do with the link between soda and obesity.

Soda is junk food.  When it is treated as a regular dietary staple, it adds nothing but empty calories to the body as most contain no vitamins and minerals.  High fructose corn syrup, the primary additive in most sodas, serves no dietary benefit.  The remaining additives in soda consist of other sweeteners and preservatives.  Even ice cream has at least some calcium and vitamin content.  The effects of soda on the body are purely negative.

Soda may even contribute to having more brittle bones.  An analysis by the Osteoporosis Research Center at Creighton University examined levels of calcium excretion among people who drank various types of soda.  They found that a moderately higher level of calcium was excreted by those who drank strong caffeinated carbonated beverages.  This appeared to be linked to people drinking soda in lieu of healthier beverages like real fruit juice.

Diet soda may not be much of a better alternative to regular soda.  Daily consumption of two or more servings of diet soda has been found to correlate with a decrease in kidney function, according to a study by Harvard University.  The diets of a group of women over 50 were observed; those who drank high amounts of diet soda experienced accelerated reduction of kidney function.

The effects of soda on the body include an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and reduction in bone density.  When consumed in moderation, the side effects of drinking soda can be minimized.  However, drinking soda every day and even multiple times per day can contribute to adverse health effects.  The amount of sugar found in soda is excessive for a day, let alone a drink.

Learn more about this author, William Menna.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.