All soda is evil (the diet ones too)
Having a soda habit isn't healthy, most people know that. But what may surprise you is that all soda is bad for you, diet types included. Recent research shows that as little as 1 soda per day (diet or regular) greatly increases a person's risk for developing metabolic syndrome, which is a precursor for both heart disease and diabetes.The diet soda industry is all up in arms over this news, saying there's no evidence or proof that it's the diet soda that's to blame based on how the study was done. And they're right -- there isn't. But something here is fishy, and considering there's such a significant connection it seems better to cut back on the soda habit and be safe, rather than ignore the connection completely and be sorry.
Drinking diet soda can still kill you
Filed under: Diet
When someone's trying to lose weight, one of the first steps they usually take is switching from full-sugar soda to the diet kind. But that might not be enough, one study shows -- cutting out all soda is the healthiest choice.According to findings from extensive research done in the US, drinking even one diet soda a day can greatly increase your chances of developing metabolic syndrome, which can lead to a heart attack and diabetes. What's more, compared to those who drank less than one soda a day, those who drank one or more were at a 30% greater risk becoming obese and had a 25% greater chance of developing high cholesterol. Yikes!
The healthiest soda is no soda -- drink water instead!
Stop the Pop
Filed under: Diet, Prevention, Research
Four things I knew about the effects of soda on your health:
1 - It contains extremely high amounts of sugar, in the form of sucrose, fructose, corn syrup, and just about every other form known to man.
2 - It is bad for your teeth and gums, due chiefly to the aforementioned high sugar content.
3 - It can be high in caffeine; something that can be looked at as being either a good or bad thing. But, considering the fact that so much soda is consumed by kids, I'd venture to say that it's definitely a bad thing.
4 - It can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.
One thing that I just learned about the effects of soda on your health:
1 - It can raise your risk of heart disease.
Canadian researchers analyzed the diets of more than 600 healthy people and discovered that those who regularly ate the most sugar-laden foods -- such as soda -- had the lowest level of HDL (good) cholesterol. Given the fact that HDL helps remove arterial plaque left by LDL (bad) cholesterol, and also because low HDL is related to related to high triglycerides, this sugar-based reduction of this cholesterol is far from sweet.
Man Bites Dog
Filed under: Prevention, Research, Nutrition
If it bleeds, it leads. That's pretty much what we've come to expect with the Man Bites Dog media, isn't it? Well, it should come as no surprise that the following was listed on the Fox News homepage today:
One Soda a Day May Boost Risk of Heart Disease.
Alarm bells sound. People duck under their tables and school desks. Animals head for higher ground. The news has spoken, and if I'm reading the article correctly, people who drink even one soda per day increase their risk of developing metabolic syndrome - a collection of symptoms related to an increased risk of heart disease.
Okay, now to dig a little deeper. According to this article, research from the Boston University School of Medicine shows that people who drink a soda per day -- even a diet soda -- seem to develop habits that ultimately lead to metabolic syndrome. While I don't necessarily doubt the data, I still question whether it's fair to just wantonly throw out a headline like that. Is it true that people who drink soda are more likely to have an increased risk of heart disease? Sure, if they say so. But, what about people who live healthy lifestyles, yet they enjoy a nice, cold soda (and, even more to the point, those that enjoy a diet soda)? Are they going to develop metabolic syndrome and heart disease? Not unless they also have any combination of three of the following maladies: High blood pressure, an elevated fasting blood sugar level, elevated fasting triglycerides, high blood pressure, or reduced HDL cholesterol.
So, is it truly fair to simply say that drinking a soda per day increases your risk of heart disease? Technically, yes. The folks at B.U. seemed to have demonstrated that. In reality, however, making such a proclamation is an example of poor reporting, if not entirely mendacious. Tossing around headlines like that (and scaring the hell out of people) is a bit irresponsible, especially when it is being done by the mainstream media. Blogs, forums, and other non-traditional news sources...well, I'm not sure if it's right for us, either. But, like I said, the mainstream media has a responsibility to report the facts. This also applies for headlines. And, If this is the headline that the media big dogs are using to attract readers, suffice it to say that this man's not biting.
Tsuoni Success Stories
I love TsuNoni. I used to drink several cans of diet soda a day. When a friend gave me some TsuNoni, I thought it would be just another diet drink. I was wrong. I?ve replaced my diet soda with TsuNoni and I?ve already lost 15 pounds! I cannot believe the difference.
Tsuoni Success Stories
I love TsuNoni. I used to drink several cans of diet soda a day. When a friend gave me some TsuNoni, I thought it would be just another diet drink. I was wrong. Iā??ve replaced my diet soda with TsuNoni and Iā??ve already lost 15 pounds! I cannot believe the difference.
Tsuoni Success Stories
I love TsuNoni. I used to drink several cans of diet soda a day. When a friend gave me some TsuNoni, I thought it would be just another diet drink. I was wrong. Iā??ve replaced my diet soda with TsuNoni and Iā??ve already lost 15 pounds! I cannot believe the difference.
Metabolic syndrome in a can
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Diet, Research
About a month ago, I read some disturbing studies and blogs on soda. I've come across phrases like 'cancer in a can', 'cola doubles the risk for chronic kidney disease', 'osteoporosis in a can'. So I stopped drinking it. I think a rogue soda slipped down my throat during a weak moment, but since then, nada one has touched my lips. I must say, it's been difficult. The Diet Cherry Cokes stockpiled in family and neighbors' fridges beckon to me -- "here we are, feel our fizz, get a jump from our caffeine!" My new vice is iced decaf Americano at Starbucks with room for cream. Yeah, I know, more fattening.
Now a new study finds an intriguing link between drinking one or more sodas a day (diet or regular) and metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms which increase the risk for heart disease -- large waistlines, higher blood pressures, blood sugars, cholesterol and triglycerides. Yup, you heard right. Diet soda.
This is no small study, the research comes from a 9,000-person, multigenerational heart study observing residents of Framingham, Massachusetts. Results were published on-line in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. The Framingham Heart Study has been generating data since 1948.
At the start of the study, one or more a day soda drinkers had a 48 percent increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome compared to those who drank less soda. Furthermore, time was not kind for daily soda drinkers initially showing no signs of metabolic syndrome. They realized a 44 percent higher risk of developing it four years later.
Experts are all giving their two cents -- 'many people who drink diet soda are overweight to begin with', 'drinking too many liquids at a meal will trigger a person to eat more at the next meal'. Of course, Susan Neely, prez of the American Beverage Association stated just the notion diet drinks are associated with bulging waistlines defies common sense. No, Ms. Neely, it is not a notion -- research begs otherwise. The study's senior author, Dr. Vasan Ramachandran stated the findings do not show diet sodas cause increased heart disease risks, but this most surprising link must be studied.
How about more studies looking into the chemical preservatives in soda? Here's a study on DNA damage caused by the common soda preservative sodium benzoate. How about this recent study that regular and diet cola (not un-colas) double your risk for chronic kidney disease? People with diabetes need to be kind to their kidneys. Read more in the Chicago Tribune.
Tsuoni Success Stories
I love TsuNoni. I used to drink several cans of diet soda a day. When a friend gave me some TsuNoni, I thought it would be just another diet drink. I was wrong. Iā??ve replaced my diet soda with TsuNoni and Iā??ve already lost 15 pounds! I cannot believe the difference.
Low-sugar watermelons a guilt-free treat
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Diet, Daily News, Products
The low-sugar watermelon is creating a big buzz in the news right now. The watermelon, developed by plant breeders at the US Department of Agriculture, contains less than half the sugar of regular melons. It may fit the bill perfectly for diabetics who crave a generous helping of that luscious summer treat. Brilliantly, beneficial concentrations of vitamin A, potassium and the antioxidant lycopene stay the same in the low-cal version. Don't rush to the local supermarket looking for it though: the seeds have only just become available to melon growers, so mature fruits has not yet hit the market.The beauty of the low-cal melon is that it's all-natural. Okay, okay. It took some genetic engineering to get there. Still, noshing on a big stack of this watermelon has to be better for you than processed snacks and drinks, with their chemical cocktail ingredients list. Reports in today's news on the possible dangers of diet soda consumption, for example, might get people thinking harder about healthier ways to satisfy their sugar cravings. On the other hand, if you're not afraid of the artificial sweeteners, a sprinkling on the low-sugar melon will enhance the sweetness, sugar-free. Thank you, Mother Nature...and the USDA.