| The purpose of this article is not to scare you but | | | | weakness, dizziness, migraines, and mood |
| to enlighten you, although it may do both. These | | | | changes. |
| days the consumption of carbonated beverages | | | | Food Dyes Many carbonated beverages contain |
| (such as soft drinks), especially among our youth, | | | | food dyes that are unfit for human consumption. |
| is quite disconcerting when you consider that | | | | Many of these artificial colourings have been |
| these beverages are toxic to the human body. | | | | connected to ailments such Attention Deficit |
| The following is a list of some of these toxic | | | | Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and, according to |
| compounds: sugar, carbonation, aspartame, food | | | | Dr. Walker’s book Water Can Undermine |
| dyes and phosphoric acid. | | | | Your Health, more than a million children today are |
| Sugar In 1900, the average consumption of sugar | | | | afflicted with cerebral lesions caused by soft |
| was approximately ½ lb/person/year. Currently, | | | | drinks! |
| we roughly consume an appalling 180 lbs/person | | | | Phosphoric Acid This is the substance that causes |
| year! The results on the body speak for | | | | the soft drink to bubble and fizz. Being an acid, |
| themselves. Furthermore, the average soft drink | | | | phosphoric acid burns your insides but more |
| has 10 tsp of sugar per can. No wonder pop is so | | | | importantly upsets your body’s delicate |
| addictive for so many people. | | | | phosphorus-calcium balance. You may recall that |
| Carbonation Carbonation is created by pumping | | | | calcium can be released from the bones to |
| carbon dioxide into water or other liquid. You may | | | | restore proper pH balance in the blood. As a |
| recall that carbon dioxide is a waste product of | | | | result, the presence of phosphoric acid can lead to |
| cellular and food metabolism, as such the body | | | | the weakening of the skeletal structure and hence |
| wants to expel it. So why would anyone want to | | | | osteoporosis. In 1994, The Journal of Adolescent |
| further add a waste product to their body? | | | | Health, reported a “strong association |
| Carbonated beverages also burden the body by | | | | between cola beverage consumption and bone |
| weakening stomach acid, thereby interfering with | | | | fractures in girls.” Numerous studies have |
| proper digestion. | | | | confirmed this result. |
| Aspartame “Aha! But I only drink diet | | | | So the next time you reach for the soft drink or |
| sodas!” you say. Unfortunately, eventhough | | | | sparkling water, I urge you to think twice. Think |
| diet sodas have less sugar than regular soda they | | | | about what this fizzy acidic liquid will be doing to |
| contain another concern - aspartame. Aspartame | | | | your internal environment. If you have the choice |
| is a low calorie artificial sweetener that has the | | | | go with purified water that will replenish and |
| effect of lowering your body’s metabolism. | | | | revitalize your body! |
| As a result, a 400 calorie meal now becomes an | | | | Written by Yuri Elkaim, BPHE, CK. Do not reprint |
| 800 calorie meal! Aspartame has also been linked | | | | without permission. © 2006 Total Wellness |
| to convulsions, depression, insomnia, irritability, | | | | Consulting. |