soda

[abcNKH]

I read on here many people who think soda is terrible for you. I personally LOVE soda. Caffiene free Diet Coke. I drink lots of water all day long. If I didn't think water was so important, then I could drink soda all day long. I allow DD to have 1 soda/day - no phosphates (which is what hampers bone growth). She is also allowed an additional soda/day if as long as it has no calories/carbs. This is okay with her doctor.

So what is it about soda that everyone thinks is so terrible?

[mom2burgess]

I drink alot of Soda. But it IS bad for you. If it's not diet, it is full of empty calories. If it's diet it's still full of sugar, or the artificial sweetener crap.

I drink alot of Soda, and I drink alotof water as well. My kids, they only get water, juice, or milk. They only get Soda when we eat out as a treat.

[kingclick]

Soda is also bad for the teeth. Sugared or unsugared the acid in the soda rots the teeth.

[mommymushbrain]

Okay, someone explain phosphates to me. Phosphate is one of the good ingredients for my veggie garden for growth... how does it differ to humans and with the soda deal?

Anyways, as for soda, it is bad for you due to all the above - empty calories, high sugar content, blah blah blah.... But I am one of those that drinks it constantly too. It's either that or sweet tea, which is just as sugary (heck, if not more with the way I make it!)....

[Jory]

Aside from the sugar, and chemicals, I just don't like carbonated drinks, unless it is champaigne (sp?).

Coffee is my "bad" drink. Otherwise, it is water or an occasional drink of milk. And wine for dinner about 3 nights a week.

[Peanut]

Okay, someone explain phosphates to me. Phosphate is one of the good ingredients for my veggie garden for growth... how does it differ to humans and with the soda deal?


Soft drinks contain large amounts of phosphates, which cause calcium to be removed from bones. Osteoporosis is a theoretical risk, though not proven yet.

A disturbing fact is that soft drink consumption reduces the intake of healthier beverages like milk and juices. This is especially important for adolescent girls, who usually do not take the recommended calcium intake. This can reduce the bone mass achieved during this critical period, and may lead to osteoporosis and its complications later on. http://www.mehtachildcare.com/nutrition/softdrinks.htm

The way I have had it explained to me, more scientifically put than this article, is that the human body "reads" phosphates as similar in structure to calcium, and "builds" weaker bone tissue as such. (Just as many diuretics remove salt from the system and while doing so, also eliminate a large part of potassium.)

ETA: link to another source on this process/leaching: http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?ID=2061&action=print

[Ihavecontrolofu]

I drink diet coke everyday.
my kids rarely get soda because it makes them hyper.

[OnederWoman]

I love Diet Rite. We almost never have soda in our house, only for the fact that we drink it. I'm a kook, because regular not-diet COLA grosses me out. Something about the sugar content and caramel color. But hand me a regular Sprite or 7-up, the sugar doesn't bother me. Diet cola, the caramel color doesn't bother me. But together, BLECH!

I actually overcame my irrational thinking tonight, and had a Dr. Pepper with dinner. We had a bunch of people over the other night to play hide and seek in the dark (all adults, mind you) and one couple brought a case of DP and a case of Mountain Dew. Both are still sitting, almost full, in the fridge.

I don't like for Jake to drink them because of the sugar content. What is it, something like the equivalent of 37 teaspoons of sugar per can?? Yikes.

In moderation, I don't think it's bad, diet or regular.

[Ihavecontrolofu]

OK seriously I want to play hide and go seek in the dark with all adults.

[OnederWoman]

OK seriously I want to play hide and go seek in the dark with all adults So. Much. Fun.