As consumption of soft drinks skyrockets, the medical community becomes more concerned about the consequences of a steady diet of both sugar-free and sugared soda pop. According to the Mayo Clinic, over-consumption of soft drinks can lead to obesity, osteoporosis and kidney problems. The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases has even found a link between diet soft drinks made with artificial sweeteners and weight gain.
Knowing the sugar content of drinks can have important health implications. For example, men who drank just one 12-ounce sugary drink a day were 20 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack over a 22-year period than men who...
Soft drinks are nonalcoholic beverages like cola and sweetened juice drinks. On an average day in California, 62 percent of children age 12 to 17 and 24 percent of adults drink at least one soda or sweetened soft drink per day,...
Although a small amount of caffeine doesn't typically cause health problems, consuming too much can lead to restlessness, headaches and anxiety. For most people, caffeine consumption under about 500 to 600 milligrams per day is...
It occurs naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves and kola nuts and is often added to soft drinks such as colas and energy drinks. Moderate amounts of caffeine generally are not harmful; however, the caffeine in soft drinks and o...
If you consume too much sugar each day -- perhaps in the form of sugar-sweetened soft drinks -- you might be increasing your risk. However, all the research isn't yet in, so it's not clear whether cutting back on sugar-sweetene...
Knowing more about the importance of phosphorus in your diet, as well as how soda interacts with this mineral, may encourage you to strictly limit soft drinks in your daily diet.
Soft drinks rank as the number four source of calories in the American Diet, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soft drinks are high in calories and sugar and provide no nutritional value. In addition, drinking to...
In your body it is primarily found in the form of phosphate. Every cell in your body needs phosphorus to function properly, but 85 percent of the phosphorus is stored in your bones. While phosphorus is an essential nutrient, ge...
They occur when a material called plaque builds up on the surfaces of your teeth and triggers destructive changes in your gums and associated tissue. While sugar-containing soft drinks can react with plaque and degrade the heal...
If you have had kidney stones in the past, you most likely want to prevent them in the future. A number of diet changes may reduce your likelihood of kidney stones. Reducing soft drinks may help prevent kidney stones from retur...
Read the list of ingredients on your can of cola and you'll find phosphoric acid among them. Manufacturers add phosphoric acid to soft drinks as an acidifying agent. This substance appears in a variety of soft drinks, usually d...
When Americans reach for something to drink, it is more often than not a soft drink that has added sugar or a non-nutritive sweetener. Although water bottles and filtered water are popular, they cannot beat the overwhelming pre...
If elimination through these pathways increases, there is the potential for you to deplete or decrease your calcium levels to an unhealthy degree. When you consume carbonated soft drinks, you increase the levels in your body of...
Phosphoric acid is a source of the phosphate ion, which your body cells need in order to maintain proper function. Ironically, however, the phosphoric acid you get from sodas -- while it's a source of phosphate -- can damage th...
There were 9.4 billion cases of carbonated soft drinks sold in the United States in 2009, according to "Beverage Digest," and the National Cancer Institute reported 43,140 new cases and 36,800 deaths from pancreatic cancer in 2...
Americans consume the greatest amount of soda per capita compared to other countries, averaging about one gallon of soda per week. Ireland comes in second, with just over half of U.S. consumption. Weight-conscious Americans hav...
Metabolic syndrome represents a major health risk to many Americans. Among the many factors that increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome is the consumption of soft drinks as a significant portion of your diet. The in...
Soft drinks have become a controversial public health issue, especially for schools. Britain and France have banned soda entirely, and several large public school districts such as Los Angeles have also banned or severely restr...
When it comes to the advantages of water over soda, it's clear that water is the superior choice. But commercials for so-called diet and natural sodas can blur the line over how much soda is acceptable when it affects your heal...
Incorporating flavored soft drinks into your favorite cake mix adds moisture to the batter, while the carbonation makes the cake lighter. Adding your favorite cola to your favorite meat can tenderize the meat and surprise you w...
While diet soft drinks contain none of the sugar, carbohydrates or calories that give regular sodas their bad reputation, these beverages do contain some sodium. Individuals watching their sodium intake and those at risk for de...
Soft drinks provide empty calories and contain high amounts of sugar. Most soft drinks also contain some sodium. Adults watching their sodium or calorie intake should limit their soda consumption and choose alternative beverage...
You may think of diet soft drinks as a healthy and delightful alternative to water because they taste sweet but don't contain the empty calories of sugary soda. Although drinking an occasional can of diet soda isn't likely to c...
You may think that drinking diet soft drinks is a healthy alternative to consuming calorie-rich regular soda if you're carefully watching your waistline. This sweet option may seem as innocent as calorie-free water, but new res...
Even insurance companies use it to help determine rates for health and life policies. Although most people have heard about cholesterol and understand that it's related to diet, you may not know how to eat to keep your choleste...
When it comes to quenching your thirst, water is your best choice. It is free of calories and fat and prevents dehydration. Other beverages, such as milk and soda, are much different in terms of nutrition. Milk supplies a wealt...
If you have advanced kidney disease, your nephrologist or renal dietitian may have warned you to stay away from dark-colored sodas. This recommendation might seem somewhat odd, but it is based upon solid, nutritional evidence. ...
If you've been wondering why your soft drink gives your mouth a mild stinging sensation, look into its acid content. The acid in soft drinks varies from brand to brand. Generally, it adds flavor and serves as a preservative. Yo...
Although "healthy" probably isn't the first word that comes to mind when you think of soft drinks, beverage companies are increasingly offering products aimed at the health-conscious consumer -- and one of these is healthier so...
The USDA recommends limiting soft drinks or other discretionary calories from your diet. Children ages 4 to 8 years old should consume less than 170 calories from sugar, fat or other discretionary calories. A 12-fluid-oz. soft ...
Soft drinks represent a part of many Americans' diets. Manufacturered in a range of flavors and marketed to both children and adults, soft drinks have been widespread in American society for decades. While the drinks may prove ...
Many Americans consume sodas daily; however, soft drinks have no health or nutritional benefits. In fact, they increase the risk of many health problems including weight gain, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and sleep problems. S...
Soft drinks and energy drinks are both widely available in supermarkets, drug stores and vending machines all across the nation. People consume these beverages on a daily basis, unaware of their nutritional information. While s...
Caffeine is a drug that stimulates your central nervous system, creating the buzz you feel after drinking a cup. Many plant products contain caffeine naturally, but beverage companies often add caffeine to their products as wel...
Although caffeine can produce desirable effects, it also may cause unpleasant reactions in the body. Because everyone may experience the effects of caffeine differently, monitor your body's own reaction after consuming caffeine...
This beverage was first patented in Canada and quickly became a popular drink in the United States and several other countries throughout the world. Cream soda has a similar nutritional value as other leading brands of soft dri...
PH is the measurement standard used in chemistry to determine acid levels in a solution. As long as a solution contains water, it can be measured for acidity, which includes soft drinks. To do this, a pH meter or test kit must ...
Soft drinks are a nonalcoholic beverage containing carbonated water, flavoring and sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. In 2009 Americans consumed 9.4 billion cases of soda, the equivalent of 703 cans of soda per person, accordin...
Soft drinks have become the beverage of choice for many people, replacing healthier drinks such as water and milk. People in different parts of the country refer to soft drinks with many different names, including soda, pop or ...
Soft drinks are one of the major sources of added sugar, according to the Institute of Medicine. Sodas, energy drinks, sweetened teas and fruit-flavored beverages add calories to your diet, but offer little in the way of nutrit...
Soft drinks are one of the main sources of added sugar in the American diet. According to the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, the U.S. is the No. 1 consumer of soft drinks per capita. American consumption of carbonated bevera...
Soft drinks are carbonated beverages. They are commonly also known as soda, soda pop, pop or tonic. While occasional consumption of these types of beverages may not cause any negative effects, drinking them on a regular basis i...
Diet soft drinks might not be the perfect alternative to regular soft drinks, as once believed. The skinny on diet soft drinks is that they just might make you fat.
Drinking soda is not the healthiest option out there. If you're going to drink it anyway, choosing a sugar-free alternative might provide some benefits. For example, a single 12-oz. can of Coca-Cola has 140 calories and 39 g of...
A 2.25-liter bottle of Coke is a packaging form unavailable in the United States, though it is seen in other countries. A bottle this size contains the equivalent of more than six cans of Coke.
At one time, all soft drinks contained sugar as the sweetening agent. In the 1980s, most soft drinks switched from sugar to high fructose corn syrup to sweeten their products. Fructose, which occurs naturally in fruits, honey a...
Soft drinks, soda pop and energy drinks are big business around the globe. According to the National Soft Drink Association, Americans consume more than 600 12-oz. soft drinks per year, which is more than any other nation. The ...
Years ago, there was concern about the aluminum itself. More recently, experts are investigating the safety of a material in can liners.
Glucose in a molecule that provides enter to the body to perform activities of daily living and physical activity, states MedlinePlus of the National Institutes of Health. Soft drinks contain glucose in the form of simple sugar...
Beverages containing coffee, tea, dairy products or undiluted juice do not fall into this category. Soft drinks are typically water-based, with the addition of carbonation, flavors and colors. Most of the nutrients come from sw...
Drinking plenty of liquids is an essential part of maintaining good health. Soft drinks are beverages, but cannot be considered a good choice for reaching your daily liquid needs, report Ted Wilson and Norman J. Temple, authors...
However, they are linked by an ominous connection: decline in kidney function. Jody A. Charnow reports in "Renal and Urology News" that women who drink two or more servings of artificially sweetened soda per day have twice the ...
One 12-oz. can of soda has 140 calories, but the specific calorie totals in different soft drinks vary greatly due to the variety of soft drinks on the market, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Soft drinks, writes Harvard nutritionist Walter Willett in his book "Eat, Drink and Be Healthy," are one of the chief culprits in America's growing obesity problem. These drinks pack a lot of calories for their volume, and brin...
Since the carbonation comes from an acid, those drinks are by nature acidic. Other people consider a soft drink any drink that doesn't have any "hard" liquor. In that case, start by looking at water.
The health benefits of drinking diet soft drinks are hotly debated. Some bloggers, nutritionists and media health commentators have claimed that diet soft drinks pose a health risk, while others contend that high-calorie drinks...
A variety of caffeine-free soft drinks is available for purchase.
Zero-calorie soft drinks appeared in the United States as a marketing spin on diet soda varieties, according to the book “Coca-Globalization” by Robert Foster. Zero-calorie soft drinks contain no sugar, but instead ...
Some suggest that these liquid calories are a contributing factor to being overweight. In an attempt to help the public, in 2010, the USDA is considering a soda tax, theorizing that people will buy and drink fewer of these suga...
The Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness calls caffeine "one of the most comprehensively studied ingredients in the food supply." Although soft drinks are notorious for their caffeine content, most of them contain roughly...
Americans love diet soda, so much so that Diet Coke was nearly the second-most popular soft drink in the U.S., with 936.3 million cases sold in 2009. According to the MayoClinic.com and Dr. Barry Popkin of the University of No...
Whether you are trying to limit your caffeine intake or are seeking caffeinated beverages for a quick burst of energy, it's important to know which soft drinks contain caffeine. Since caffeine is not a natural ingredient of sof...
Although the majority of soft drinks contain caffeine, many caffeine-free options are also available. The three main manufacturers of soft drinks in the United States include Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Dr. Pepper Snapple, according...
Americans drink 13.15 billion gallons of soft drinks a year, making the United States No. 1 in soft drink consumption, according to the Organic Consumers Association. There are many health problems related to regular and diet s...
Addiction to caffeine-containing soft drinks is common in America. Children are highly susceptible because of the sugar content and flavors of these beverages. Drinking diet or regular sodas is associated with increased risk of...
Caffeine is a mild stimulant that is added to soft drinks. When consumed, caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, which can make you feel more alert or even jumpy. According to the McKinley Health Center, 300 mg of caff...
Soft drinks include the entire group of nonalcoholic, flavored, carbonated beverages. Each of the varieties, from fruit flavors to colas, has its own unique flavor profile as well as its own unique combination of ingredients. M...
Some people are more affected by caffeine than others. If you are trying to limit your caffeine intake, it makes sense to find out how much is present in your coffee, tea or soft drinks. Caffeine content in soft drinks can vary...
David Ludwig for the Department of Medicine at Children's Hospital in Boston and the Harvard School of Public Health concluded that "a child's odds of becoming obese increase by 60 percent with each additional daily serving of ...
Soft drink consumption has increased substantially over the last 50 years and it has been established that using large amounts of soft drinks regularly can be detrimental to your health. If used in moderation soft drinks can h...
Sodium benzoate is added to soft drinks as a preservative and a bacteria-destroying agent. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America states that significant numbers of people report allergic reactions to the compound. The Am...
Diet soft drinks entered the mainstream market in 1958 with a beverage called "Diet-Rite." Other diet soft drinks, such as Tab, Fresca and Diet Coke soon followed behind. Ingredients in early diet soft drinks included artificia...
Although diet soda does not contain any calories, it also does not have any nutritional value. Since liquids from foods and beverages are essential for healthy body functions, choosing drinks that also contain other nutritional...
It is available in cans, cups and bottles of various sizes at grocery stores, restaurants, schools, vending machines and concession stands. But that doesn't mean soda's healthy. In fact, soft drinks are not only detrimental to ...
Many people enjoy drinking soft drinks but choose calorie-free diet versions made with artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose. Sucralose is better known as Splenda, which is made by chlorinating sugar molecules. It is markete...
The controversy around diet soft drinks, such as soda, stems from the artificial sweeteners used to eliminate sugar. Several studies suggest these sweeteners may not be as safe as they claim. However, other studies have conclud...
Many people drink diet soda in order to quench their thirst without adding calories to their diet. Those who drink diet soda prefer its taste to water and they might also feel they need the energy that caffeinated versions prov...
Splenda is the brand name for sucralose, a no-calorie sugar substitute. The body does not recognize sucralose as a carbohydrate, and McNeil Nutritionals, the makers of Splenda, note that clinical studies have shown sucralose do...
Diet soda has been featured in the news and has caused many scares. Some even claim that the artificial sweeteners used in diet soda cause cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, there is no evidence of this. Howeve...
Recycling has many benefits including solid waste reduction, less energy consumption and less demand on natural resources. It's good for the environment, but there's another benefit: It can also be good for your wallet. Many it...
Aluminum is a popular packaging material for beer, sodas and soft drinks. However, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, only 38 percent of aluminum used in 2008 for packaging material had been recycle...
When comparing diet soda to full-calorie soda, diet soda appears to provide a healthier alternative for those watching calories or carbohydrates, and those who are concerned about their sugar intake. However, diet soft drinks m...
Soft drinks are a favorite beverage of many Americans. The debate about whether regular or diet soft drinks are a better choice has been heated for many years. While neither regular nor diet sodas are necessarily healthy, the c...
More than 600 sizes and styles of cans are manufactured, reports the Can Manufacturers Institute, so it's no surprise they're the most-recycled containers. Steel cans have a recycling rate of 63 percent, and aluminum, 52 percen...
Caffeine can be found in many products such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks and even some sweets and over-the-counter medications. Caffeine is a bitter substance that stimulates the central nervous system, giving a ...
You know that drinking sugary soda is a great way to ruin your weight loss goals, so you order diet soda on the side of your burger and fries. It might seem that less sugar translates to fewer health problems. Actually, more ev...
According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, more than 14 billion gallons of carbonated soft drinks were purchased for consumption in 2008 alone. When consumed in moderation, the occasional soft drink is typically not going...
Soft drinks are one of America's most beloved beverages--a reality reflected in the massive amount of soda produced and consumed each year. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, soda manufacturers pump out 10.4 bill...
Soda is generally thought to be a nonalcoholic, flavored, carbonated beverage that is commercially prepared and sold. Diet soft drinks are sugar-free, artificially sweetened, non-alcoholic carbonated beverages that are marketed...
