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The harmful effects of Soda on children
By: Jennifer Gove
If I were to ask a roomful of moms “Would you feed your child 17 teaspoons of sugar?” You can bet almost every mom would answer “NO!” But if we instead asked them “Would you let your child drink a 20 ounce soda?” They might just say this is ok. What many of us do not realize is that drinking that 20 ounce soda is the same as eating those 17 teaspoons of sugar. This also equals out to 250 empty calories. So what are the effects of soda on children?
Over the years the consumption of soda drank by children has doubled that means children are getting far more sugar and calories then need and obesity is on the rise. It would take nearly 4 hours and 30 minutes of biking to burn of the calories of drinking one soda a day per week and many children are consuming far more then that one a day. So yes, soda contributes to obesity in children.
Has your child’s trip to the dentist been less then fun lately? Soda could be the culprit behind the cavities. The acids in pop break down the enamel on teeth .Not to mention the fact bathing the teeth in sugars for a long period of time is a huge factor in tooth decay. A better idea for children is flavored sugarless water.
Ever heard the saying sticks and stones will break my bones but, names will never hurt me? Well soda sure can! Children who drink more soda often drink less milk. In these young years children need the calcium to build strong bones. Soda contains Phosphoric Acid this interferes with the bodies’ ability to absorb bone building calcium. So what little milk that children are drinking is not getting used fully by their body leaving then with weaker then average bones that are more susceptible to breaks and fractures.
Caffeine is another factor in soda. If junior is bouncing off the walls it is not just the sugar to blame but the caffeine the average soda contains about 50 mg of caffeine. That is like serving a child half a cup of your morning coffee. Caffeine can cause jitteriness, increase in heart rate, sleeplessness, head ache, mood swings, upset stomach, concentration issues, and rise of blood pressure. Caffeine is a diuretic. Soda that contains caffeine may contribute to dehydration making these drinks a poor choice in hot weather.
The best choice for thirst is always water first!
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