Project Report ON CONSUMER BEHAVIOR OF SOFT DRINKS & HEALTH DRINKS

SUBMITED TO:
MRS. VANDANA SEHGAL (Faculty of Consumer Behavior)

SUBMITED BY:

TIMES BUSINESS SCHOOL A-39, KAILASH COLONY, NEW DELHI-48

CONTAIN
1. About Soft Drinks 2. History Of Soft Drinks
Carbonated Drinks Soda Fountain Pioneers Soda Fountains Vs Bottled Sadas Soft Drink Bottling Industry Automatic Production Of Glass Bottles Home !ack And Vending "ac#ines

3. Production
Soft Drinks Production Ingredient $uality Soft Drink Packaging Ice Cream Sodas%Floats Healt# &ffects Obesity And 'eig#t related Diseases

JAY KUMAR
(MBA THIRD SEMESTER)
Dental Decay Hy!okalemia Soft Drinks And Bone Density

(utritional Value Sugar Content

4. Go !rn"!nt R!#u$%tions
Sc#ool )a*ation Pesticides in India Ben+ene Alco#ol Content

&. H!%$t' Drinks

Herbal Infusion ,a- "ilk From Grass fed Co-s (on dairy "ilks (atural Sodas Organic Bottled .uices Home "ade /uices And Smoot#ics Organic Coffee And Organic Black )ea Green )ee And 0erba "ate All natural Coffee Substitutes Herbal )eas Organic Beer And 'ine Ot#er Healt#y Drinks

(. )!!db%ck )ro" *usto"!rs About soft Drinks

'#y Are Soft Drinks Fi++y 1 ,easons )o $uite Drinking Soda Drinks2And Ho- )o Do It34 Ho- )o $uite Drinking Coke%Sodas Successfully3 5 ,easons '#y Peo!le Drink Soda And 67 ,easons )o Gi8e 9! Soda Drinking 67 ,easons )o Sto! Drinking Soda '#y #ealt#y !eo!le A8oid )#e Soft Drinks3

+. *onc$usion

ABOUT Soft drink

A soft drink 2-idely referred to as ,o,: sod%: or sod% ,o,4 is a drink t#at contains no alco#ol but is usually referred to as a sugary drink; Soft drinks are often carbonated and commonly consumed -#ile cold and or room tem!erature; Some of t#e most common soft drinks include cola: fla8ored -ater: s!arkling -ater: iced tea: s-eet tea: s!arkling lemonade 2or ot#er lemon lime sodas4: s<uas#: fruit !unc#: root beer: orange soda: gra!e soda: cream soda: and ginger ale; )#e term =soft= is em!loyed in o!!osition to =#ard=: i;e; alco#olic drinks; Generally it is also im!lied t#at t#e drink does not contain milk or ot#er dairy !roducts; Hot c#ocolate: #ot tea: coffee: ta! -ater: /uice and milks#akes also do not fall into t#is classification; "any carbonated soft drinks are o!tionally a8ailable in 8ersions s-eetened -it# sugars or -it# non caloric s-eeteners;

HISTORY OF SOFT DRINKS

Soft drinks trace t#eir #istory back to t#e mineral -aters found in natural s!rings; Ancient societies belie8ed t#at bat#ing in natural s!rings and%or drinking mineral -aters could cure many diseases; &arly scientists -#o studied mineral -aters included Geber: Alkindus: ,#a+es: Paracelsus: ,obert Boyle: Friedric# Hoffmann: Antoine >aurent >a8oisier: Hermann Boer#aa8e: 'illiam Bro-nrigg: Gabriel F; Venel: .ose!# Black: and Da8id "acbride; )#e earliest soft drinks -ere s#erbets de8elo!ed by Arabic c#emists and originally ser8ed in t#e medie8al (ear &ast; )#ese -ere /uiced soft drinks made of crus#ed fruit: #erbs: or flo-ers; From around 6?71: a !o!ular drink kno-n as Dandelion @ Burdock a!!eared in &ngland: made from fermented dandelion 2)ara*acum officinale4 and burdock 2Arctium la!!a4 roots: and is naturally carbonated; )#e drink 2similar to sarsa!irilla4 is still a8ailable today: but is made -it# fla8orings and carbonated -ater: since t#e safrole in t#e original reci!e -as found to be carcinogenic; )#e first marketed soft drinks 2non carbonated4 in t#e 'estern -orld a!!eared in t#e 6At# century; )#ey -ere made from -ater and lemon /uice s-eetened -it# #oney; In 67A7: t#e Compagnie des Limonadiers of Paris -as granted a mono!oly for t#e sale of lemonade soft drinks; Vendors carried tanks of lemonade on t#eir backs and dis!ensed cu!s of t#e soft drink to t#irsty Parisians;

Carbonated drink
In late 65t# century: scientists made im!ortant !rogress in re!licating naturally carbonated mineral -aters; In 6A7A: &nglis#man .ose!# Priestley first disco8ered a met#od of infusing -ater -it# carbon dio*ide to make carbonated -ater -#en #e sus!ended a bo-l of distilled -ater abo8e a beer 8at at a local bre-ery in >eeds: &ngland; His in8ention of carbonated -ater: 2also kno-n as soda -ater4: is t#e ma/or and defining com!onent of most soft drinks; Priestley found -ater t#us treated #ad a !leasant taste: and #e offered it to friends as a refres#ing drink; In 6AA?: Priestley !ublis#ed a !a!er entitled Impregnating Water with Fixed Air in -#ic# #e describes dri!!ing oil of vitriol 2or sulfuric acid as it is no- called4 onto c#alk to !roduce carbon dio*ide gas: and encouraging t#e gas to dissol8e into an agitated bo-l of -ater; Anot#er &nglis#man: .o#n "er8in (oot#: im!ro8ed PriestleyBs design and sold #is a!!aratus for commercial use in !#armacies; S-edis# c#emist )orbern Bergman in8ented a generating a!!aratus t#at made carbonated -ater from c#alk by t#e use of sulfuric acid; BergmanBs a!!aratus allo-ed imitation mineral -ater to be !roduced in large amounts; S-edis# c#emist .Cns .acob Ber+elius started to add fla8ors 2s!ices: /uices and -ine4 to carbonated -ater in t#e late 65t# century;

Soda !o"ntain #ioneer

Artificial mineral -aters: usually called =soda -ater:= and t#e soda fountain made t#e biggest s!las# in t#e 9nited States; Beginning in 65D7: 0ale c#emistry !rofessor Ben/amin Silliman sold soda -aters in (e- Ha8en: Connecticut; He used a (oot# a!!aratus to !roduce #is -aters; Businessmen in P#iladel!#ia and (e- 0ork City also began selling soda -ater in t#e early 65DDs; In t#e 65EDs: .o#n "att#e-s of (e0ork City and .o#n >i!!incott of P#iladel!#ia began manufacturing soda fountains; Bot# men -ere successful and built large factories for fabricating fountains;

Soda !o"ntain $ % bott&ed oda

)#e drinking of eit#er natural or artificial mineral -ater -as considered a #ealt#y !ractice; )#e American !#armacists selling mineral -aters began to add #erbs and c#emicals to unfla8ored mineral -ater; )#ey used birc# bark 2see birc# beer4: dandelion: sarsa!arilla: fruit e*tracts: and ot#er substances; Fla8orings -ere also added to im!ro8e t#e taste; P#armacies -it# soda fountains became a !o!ular !art of American culture; "any Americans fre<uented t#e soda fountain on a daily basis; Due to !roblems in t#e 9;S; glass industry: bottled drinks -ere a small !ortion of t#e market in t#e 6Ft# century; 2)#ey -ere certainly kno-n in &ngland: t#oug#; In The Tenant of Wildfell Hall: !ublis#ed in 65G5: t#e caddis# Huntingdon: reco8ering from mont#s of debauc#ery: -akes at noon and gul!s a bottle of soda -ater;refH Wildfell Hall: c#; EDI%refH;4 In America: most soft drinks -ere dis!ensed and consumed at a soda fountain: usually in a drugstore or ice cream !arlor; In t#e early ?Dt# century: sales of bottled soda increased e*!onentially; In t#e second #alf of t#e ?Dt# century: canned soft drinks became an im!ortant s#are of t#e market;

So!t drink bott&in' ind" tr(

O8er 6:1DD 9;S; !atents -ere filed for eit#er a cork: ca!: or lid for t#e carbonated drink bottle to!s during t#e early days of t#e bottling industry; Carbonated drink bottles are under a lot of !ressure from t#e gas; In8entors -ere trying to find t#e best -ay to !re8ent t#e carbon dio*ide or bubbles from esca!ing; In 65F?: t#e =Cro-n Cork Bottle Seal= -as !atented by 'illiam Painter: a Baltimore mac#ine s#o! o!erator; It -as t#e first 8ery successful met#od of kee!ing t#e bubbles in t#e bottle;

A"to)ati* #rod"*tion o! '&a

bott&e

In 65FF: t#e first !atent -as issued for a glass blo-ing mac#ine for t#e automatic !roduction of glass bottles; &arlier glass bottles #ad all been #and blo-n; Four years later: t#e ne- bottle blo-ing mac#ine -as in o!eration; It -as first o!erated by t#e in8entor: "ic#ael O-ens: an em!loyee of >ibby Glass Com!any; 'it#in a fe- years: glass bottle !roduction increased from 6:GDD bottles a day to about 15:DDD bottles a day;

Ho)e+,ak and $endin' )a*-ine

During t#e 6F?Ds: t#e first =Home Paks= -ere in8ented; =Home Paks= are t#e familiar si* !ack cartons made from cardboard; Automatic 8ending mac#ines also began to a!!ear in t#e 6F?Ds;

Production
So!t drink #rod"*tion
Soft drinks are made eit#er by mi*ing dry ingredients and%or fres# ingredients 2e;g; lemons: oranges: etc;4 -it# -ater; Production of soft drinks can be done at factories: or at #ome; Soft drinks can be made at #ome by mi*ing eit#er a syru! or dry ingredients -it# carbonated -ater; Carbonated -ater is made using a #ome carbonation system or by dro!!ing dry ice into -ater; Syru!s are commercially sold by com!anies suc# as Soda Club;

In'redient ."a&it(
Of most im!ortance is t#at t#e ingredient meets t#e agreed s!ecification on all ma/or !arameters; )#is is not only t#e functional !arameter: i;e; t#e le8el of t#e ma/or constituent: but t#e le8el of im!urities: t#e microbiological status and !#ysical !arameters suc# as color: !article si+e: etc;

So!t drink #a*ka'in'

9;S; containers in ?DD5; Various si+es from 5 7A;7 9S flo+ 2?EA ml ? l4 s#o-n in can: glass and !lastic bottles In t#e 9nited States: soft drinks are sold in E: ?: 6;1: 6 liter: 1DD ml: 5: 6?: ?D and ?G 9;S; fluid ounce !lastic bottles: 6? 9;S; fluid ounce cans: and s#ort eig#t ounce cans; Some Coca Cola !roducts can be !urc#ased in 5 and 6? 9;S; fluid ounce glass bottles; .ones Soda and Orange Crus# are sold in 67 9;S; fluid ounce 26 9;S; !int4 glass bottles; Cans are !ackaged in a 8ariety of <uantities suc# as si* !acks: 6? !acks and cases of ?G: E7 and E7D; 'it# t#e ad8ent of energy drinks sold in eig#t ounce cans in t#e 9S: some soft drinks are no- sold in similarly si+ed cans; It is also common for carbonated soft drinks to be ser8ed as fountain drinks in -#ic# carbonation is added to a concentrate immediately !rior to ser8ing; In &uro!e: soft drinks are ty!ically sold in ?: 6;1: 6 litre: EED ml !lastic or 1DD ml glass bottlesJ aluminium cans are traditionally si+ed in EED ml: alt#oug# ?1D ml slim cans #a8e become !o!ular since t#e introduction of canned energy drinks and E11 ml 8ariants of t#e slim cans #a8e been introduced by ,ed Bull more recently; Cans and bottles often come in !acks of si* or four; Se8eral countries #a8e standard recyclable !ackaging -it# a container de!osit: ty!ically ranging from K D;61 to D;?1; )#e bottles are smelted: or cleaned and refilledJ cans are crus#ed and sold as scra! aluminium; In Australia: soft drinks are usually sold in EA1 ml cans or glass or !lastic bottles; Bottles are usually EFD ml: 7DD ml: 6;?1 or ? litre; Ho-e8er: 6;1 litre bottles #a8e more recently been used by t#e t#e Coca Cola Com!any; Sout# Australia is t#e only state to offer a container recycling sc#eme: recently #a8ing lifted t#e de!osit from 1 cents to 6D cents; )#is sc#eme is also done in t#e P#ili!!inesJ !eo!le usually buy glass bottles and return t#em in e*c#ange for a small amount of money;

In Canada: soft drinks are sold in cans of ?E7 ml: E11 ml: GAE ml: and bottles of 1F6 ml: A6D ml: 6 l: 6;5F l: and ? l; )#e odd si+es are due to being t#e metric near e<ui8alents to 5: 6?: 67: ?D: ?G and 7G 9;S; fluid ounces; )#is allo-s bottlers to use t#e same si+ed containers as in t#e 9;S; market; )#is is an e*am!le of a -ider !#enomenon in (ort# America; Brands of more international soft drinks suc# as Fanta and ,ed Bull are more likely to come in round figure ca!acities; In India: soft drinks are a8ailable in ?DD ml and EDD ml glass bottles: ?1D ml and EED ml cans: and 7DD ml: 6;?1 l: 6;1 l and ? l !lastic bottles;

I*e *rea) oda /!&oat

)#e ice cream soda: also called float: is a drink t#at consists of one or more scoo!s of ice cream in eit#er a soft drink or a mi*ture of fla8ored syru! and carbonated -ater; )#e most common of t#ese is t#e root beer float; In t#e 9nited States: it is usually called an =ice cream float:= but may be called an =ice cream soda:= or soda for s#ort: as t#ey -ere made at t#e once ubi<uitous soda fountains; Some ice cream sodas #a8e s!ecific names suc# as =black co-:= =bro-n co-:= =!ur!le co-= 28anilla ice cream in !ur!le gra!e soda4: and =Boston cooler= 28anilla ice cream in VernorBs ginger ale4; In Australia and (e- Lealand: it is kno-n as a =s!ider;= In Scotland 2mainly t#e -est coast4 it is usually referred to as a =float:= for e*am!le: a =coke float= 2as else-#ere: =coke= is often used generically to refer to any cola in Scotland: -#ile =soda= in Scotland is usually taken to mean soda -ater4; In Belfast: (ort#ern Ireland: t#ere is a regional 8ariationM cola 2regardless of brand4 and 8anilla ice cream are called a =coke afloat;=

Hea&t- e!!e*t
)#e consum!tion of sugar s-eetened soft drinks is associated -it# obesity: ty!e ? diabetes: dental ca8ities: and lo- nutrient le8els; &*!erimental studies tend to su!!ort a causal role for sugar s-eetened soft drinks in t#ese ailments: t#oug# t#is is c#allenged by ot#er researc#ers; "any soft drinks contain ingredients t#at are t#emsel8es sources of concernM caffeine is linked to an*iety and slee! disru!tion -#en consumed in e*cess: and t#e #ealt# effects of #ig# fructose corn syru! and artificial s-eeteners remain contro8ersial; Sodium ben+oate #as been in8estigated as a !ossible cause of D(A damage and #y!eracti8ity; Ot#er substances #a8e negati8e #ealt# effects: but are !resent in suc# small <uantities t#at t#ey are unlikely to !ose any substantial #ealt# risk; Ben+ene belongs to t#is categoryM t#e amount of ben+ene in soft drinks is small enoug# t#at it is unlikely to !ose a #ealt# risk; In 6FF5: t#e Center for Science in t#e Public Interest !ublis#ed a re!ort entitled Liquid Candy: How oft !rin"s are Harming Ameri#ans$ Health ; )#e re!ort e*amined statistics relating to t#e soaring consum!tion of soft drinks: !articularly by c#ildren: and t#e conse<uent #ealt# ramifications: including toot# decay: nutritional de!letion: obesity: ty!e ? 2formerly kno-n as =adult onset=4 diabetes: and #eart disease; It also re8ie-ed soft drink marketing and made 8arious recommendations aimed at reducing soft drink consum!tion;

Obe it( and 0ei'-t+re&ated di ea e

From 6FAA to ?DD6: Americans doubled t#eir consum!tion of s-eetened be8erages a trend t#at -as !aralleled by a doubling of t#e !re8alence of obesity; )#e consum!tion of sugar s-eetened be8erages is associated -it# -eig#t and obesity: and c#anges in consum!tion !redict c#anges in -eig#t; One study follo-ed 1G5 sc#oolc#ildren o8er 6F mont#s and found t#at c#anges in soft drink consum!tion -ere associated -it# c#anges in body mass inde* 2B"I4; &ac# soft drink t#at a c#ild added to #is or #er daily consum!tion -as accom!anied by an increase in B"I of D;?G kg%m?; Similarly: an 5 year study of 1D:DDD female nurses com!ared -omen -#o -ent from drinking almost no soft drinks to drinking more t#an one a day to -omen -#o -ent from drinking more t#an one soft drink a day to drinking almost no soft drinks; )#e -omen -#o increased t#eir consum!tion of soft drinks gained 5;D kg o8er t#e course of t#e study -#ile t#e -omen -#o decreased t#eir consum!tion gained only ?;5 kg; In eac# of t#ese studies: t#e absolute number of soft drinks consumed !er day -as also !ositi8ely associated -it# -eig#t gain; Still: it is !ossible t#at !eo!le -#o lead un#ealt#y lifestyles consume more soft drinks; If so: t#en t#e association bet-een soft drink consum!tion and -eig#t gain could reflect t#e conse<uences of an un#ealt#y lifestyle rat#er t#an t#e conse<uences of consuming soft drinks; &*!erimental e8idence is needed to definiti8ely establis# t#e causal role of soft drink consum!tion; ,e8ie-s of t#e e*!erimental e8idence suggest t#at soft drink consum!tion does cause -eig#t gain: but t#e effect is often small e*ce!t for o8er-eig#t indi8iduals; "any of t#ese e*!eriments e*amined t#e influence of sugar s-eetened soft drinks on -eig#t gain in c#ildren and adolescents; In one e*!eriment: adolescents re!laced sugar s-eetened soft drinks in t#eir diet -it# artificially s-eetened soft drinks t#at -ere sent to t#eir #omes o8er ?1 -eeks; Com!ared -it# c#ildren in a control grou!: c#ildren -#o recei8ed t#e artificially s-eetened drinks sa- a smaller increase in t#eir B"I 2by ;6G kg%m?4: but t#is effect -as only statistically significant among t#e #ea8iest c#ildren 2-#o sa- a benefit of ;A1 kg%m?4; In anot#er study: an educational !rogram encouraged sc#oolc#ildren to consume fe-er soft drinks; During t#e sc#ool year: t#e !re8alence of obesity decreased among c#ildren in t#e !rogram by D;?N: com!ared to a A;1N increase among c#ildren in t#e control grou!; Sugar s-eetened drinks also cause -eig#t gain in adults; In one study: o8er-eig#t indi8iduals consumed a daily su!!lement of sucrose s-eetened or artificially s-eetened drinks or foods for a 6D -eek !eriod; "ost of t#e su!!lement -as in t#e form of soft drinks; Indi8iduals in t#e sucrose grou! gained 6;7 kg: and indi8iduals in t#e artificial s-eetener grou! lost 6;D kg; A t-o -eek study #ad !artici!ants su!!lement t#eir diet -it# sugar s-eetened soft drinks: artificially s-eetened soft drinks: or neit#er; Alt#oug# t#e !artici!ants gained t#e most -eig#t -#en consuming t#e sugar s-eetened drinks: some of t#e differences -ere unreliableM t#e differences bet-een men -#o consumed sugar s-eetened drinks or no drinks -as not statistically significant; Ot#er researc# suggests t#at soft drinks mig#t !lay a s!ecial role in -eig#t gain; One four -eek e*!eriment com!ared a G1D calorie%day su!!lement of sugar s-eetened soft drinks to a G1D calorie%day su!!lement of /elly beans; )#e /elly bean su!!lement did not lead to -eig#t gain: but t#e soft drink su!!lement did; )#e likely reason for t#e difference in -eig#t gain is t#at !eo!le -#o consumed t#e /elly beans lo-ered t#eir caloric intake at subse<uent meals: -#ile !eo!le -#o consumed soft drinks did not; )#us: t#e lo- le8els of satiety !ro8ided by sugar s-eetened soft drinks may e*!lain t#eir association -it# obesity; )#at is: !eo!le may -#o consume calories in sugar s-eetened be8erages may fail to ade<uately reduce t#eir intake of calories from ot#er sources; Indeed: !eo!le consume more total calories in meals and on days -#en t#ey are gi8en sugar s-eetened be8erages t#an -#en t#ey are gi8en artificially s-eetened be8erages or -ater;

A study by Purdue 9ni8ersity re!orted t#at no calorie s-eeteners -ere linked to an increase in body -eig#t; )#e e*!eriment com!ared rats -#o -ere fed sacc#arin s-eetened yogurt and glucose s-eetened yogurt; )#e sacc#arin grou! e8entually consumed more calories: gained more -eig#t and more body fat: and did not com!ensate later by cutting back; )#e consum!tion of sugar s-eetened soft drinks is also associated -it# many -eig#t related diseases: including diabetes: metabolic syndrome and cardio8ascular risk factors: and ele8ated blood !ressure;

Denta& de*a(
"ost soft drinks contain #ig# concentration of sim!le carbo#ydrates glucose: fructose: sucrose and ot#er sim!le sugars; Oral bacteria ferment carbo#ydrates and !roduce acid: -#ic# dissol8es toot# enamel during t#e dental decay !rocessJ t#us: s-eetened drinks are likely to increase risk of dental caries; )#e risk is greater if t#e fre<uency of consum!tion is #ig#; A large number of soft drinks are acidic: and some may #a8e a !H of E;D or e8en lo-er; Drinking acidic drinks o8er a long !eriod of time and continuous si!!ing can t#erefore erode t#e toot# enamel; Drinking t#roug# a stra- is often ad8ised by dentists as t#e drink is t#en s-allo-ed from t#e back of t#e mout# and does not come into contact -it# t#e teet# as muc#; It #as also been suggested t#at brus#ing teet# rig#t after drinking soft drinks s#ould be a8oided as t#is can result in additional erosion to t#e teet# due to t#e !resence of acid;

H(#oka&e)ia
)#ere #a8e been a #andful of !ublis#ed re!orts describing indi8iduals -it# se8ere #y!okalemia 2lo!otassium le8els4 related to c#ronic e*treme consum!tion 2G 6D >%day4 of colas;

Soft !"#$% &# 'o#( (#%"t)

,esearc# suggests a statistically significant in8erse relations#i! bet-een consum!tion of carbonated be8erages and bone mineral density in young girls: -#ic# !laces t#em at increased risk of suffering fractures in t#e future; One #y!ot#esis to e*!lain t#is relations#i! is t#at t#e !#os!#oric acid contained in some soft drinks 2colas4 dis!laces calcium from t#e bones: lo-ering bone density of t#e skeleton and leading to -eakened bones: or osteo!orosis; Ho-e8er: calcium metabolism studies by leading calcium and bone e*!ert Dr; ,obert Heaney suggested t#at t#e net effect of carbonated soft drinks: 2including colas: -#ic# use !#os!#oric acid as t#e acidulent4 on calcium retention -as negligible; Heaney concluded t#at it is likely t#at colaBs !rominence in obser8ational studies is due to t#eir !rominence in t#e market!lace: and t#at t#e real issue is t#at !eo!le -#o drink a lot of soft drinks also tend to #a8e an o8erall diet t#at is lo- in calcium;

N"tritiona& $a&"e
9nless fortified: t#ey also contain little to no 8itamins: minerals: fiber: !rotein: or ot#er essential nutrients; Soft drinks may also dis!lace ot#er #ealt#ier c#oices in !eo!leBs diets: suc# as -ater: milk: and fruit /uice;

S"'ar *ontent
'#ile t#e 9SDA recommended daily allotment 2,DA4 of added sugars is 6D teas!oons for a ?:DDD calorie diet: many soft drinks contain more t#an t#is amount; Hig# caloric intake contributes to obesity if not balanced -it# e*ercise; 9ntil 6F51: soft drinks obtained nearly all of t#eir food energy in t#e form of refined cane sugar or corn syru!; )oday in t#e 9nited States #ig# fructose corn syru! 2HFCS4 is used nearly e*clusi8ely as a s-eetener because of its lo-er cost: -#ile in &uro!e: sucrose dominates: because &9 agricultural !olicies fa8or !roduction of sugar beets in &uro!e !ro!er and sugarcane in t#e former colonies o8er t#e !roduction of corn; HFCS #as been critici+ed as #a8ing a number of detrimental effects on #uman #ealt#: suc# as !romoting diabetes: #y!eracti8ity: #y!ertension: and a #ost of ot#er !roblems; Alt#oug# anecdotal e8idence #as been !resented to su!!ort suc# claims: it is -ell kno-n t#at t#e #uman body breaks sucrose do-n into glucose and fructose before it is absorbed by t#e intestines; Sim!le sugars suc# as fructose are con8erted into t#e same intermediates as in glucose metabolism; Ho-e8er: metabolism of fructose is e*tremely ra!id and is initiated by fructokinase; Fructokinase acti8ity is not regulated by metabolism or #ormones and !roceeds ra!idly after intake of fructose; '#ile t#e intermediates of fructose metabolism are similar to t#ose of glucose: t#e rates of formation are e*cessi8e; )#is fact !romotes fatty acid and triglyceride synt#esis in t#e li8er: leading to accumulation of fat t#roug#out t#e body and !ossibly non alco#olic fatty li8er disease; Increased blood li!id le8els also seem to follo- fructose ingestion o8er time;

1o$ern)ent re'"&ation
S*+oo,%
In recent years: debate on -#et#er #ig# calorie soft drink 8ending mac#ines s#ould be banned in sc#ool #as been on t#e rise; Pro!onents belie8e t#at soft drinks are a significant contributor to c#ild#ood obesity and toot# decay: and t#at allo-ing soft drink sales in sc#ools encourages c#ildren to belie8e t#ey are safe to consume in moderate to large <uantities; Pro!onents note t#at c#ildren are not al-ays mature enoug# to understand t#e conse<uences of t#eir o-n food c#oices and s#ould not be routinely e*!osed to t#e tem!tation of readily a8ailable soft drinks; )#ey also argue t#at sc#ools #a8e a res!onsibility to look after t#e #ealt# of t#e c#ildren in t#eir care: and t#at allo-ing c#ildren easy access to soft drinks 8iolates t#at res!onsibility; O!!onents belie8e t#at obesity is a com!le* issue and soft drinks are not t#e only cause; )#ey also note t#e immense amount of funding soft drink sales bring to sc#ools; Some !eo!le Owho%P take a more moderate stance: saying t#at soft drink mac#ines s#ould be allo-ed in sc#ools: but t#at t#ey s#ould not be t#e only o!tion a8ailable; )#ey !ro!ose t#at -#en soft drink 8ending mac#ines are made a8ailable in sc#ool grounds: t#e sc#ools s#ould be re<uired to !ro8ide c#ildren -it# a c#oice of alternati8e drinks 2suc# as fruit /uice: fla8ored -ater and milk4 at a com!arable !rice; On E "ay ?DD7: t#e Alliance for a Healt#ier Generation: Cadbury Sc#-e!!es: Coca Cola: Pe!siCo: and t#e American Be8erage Association announced ne- Sc#ool Be8erage Guidelines t#at -ill 8oluntarily remo8e #ig# calorie soft drinks from all 9;S; sc#ools; On 6F "ay ?DD7: t#e Britis# &ducation Secretary: Alan .o#nson: announced ne- minimum nutrition standards for sc#ool food; Amongst a -ide range of measures: from Se!tember ?DD7: sc#ool lunc#es -ill be free from carbonated drinks; Sc#ools -ill also end t#e sale of /unk food 2including carbonated drinks4 in 8ending mac#ines and tuck s#o!s;

T&-&t"o#
In t#e 9nited States: legislators: #ealt# e*!erts and consumer ad8ocates are considering le8ying #ig#er ta*es on t#e sale of soft drinks and ot#er s-eetened be8erages to #el! finance t#e e!idemic of obesity among Americans: and its #armful im!act on o8erall #ealt#; )#e reasoning is t#at e*tra ta*es could fund educational acti8ities to make consumers more a-are of t#e un#ealt#y effects of drinking e*cessi8e soft drinks: and also #el! co8er #ig# costs to reform t#e 9S #ealt#care system; )#e food and be8erage industry #olds considerable clout in 'as#ington: DC: as it #as contributed more t#an Q1D million to legislators since ?DDD;

.(%t"*" (% "# I# "&

In ?DDE: t#e Del#i non !rofit Centre for Science and &n8ironment !ublis#ed a dis!uted re!ort finding !esticide le8els in Coke and Pe!si soft drinks sold in India at le8els ED times t#at considered safe by t#e &uro!ean &conomic Commission; )#e Indian Healt# "inister said t#e CS& tests -ere inaccurate: and said t#at t#e go8ernmentBs tests found !esticide le8els -it#in IndiaBs standards but abo8e &9 standards; A similar CS& re!ort in August ?DD7 !rom!ted many state go8ernments #a8e issued a ban of t#e sale of soft drinks in sc#ools; Rerala issued a com!lete ban on t#e sale or manufacture of soft drinks altoget#er; 2)#ese -ere later struck do-n in court;4 In return: t#e soft drink com!anies like Coca Cola and Pe!si #a8e issued ads in t#e media regarding t#e safety of consum!tion of t#e drinks; )#e 9R based Central Science >aboratory: commissioned by Coke: found its !roducts met &9 standards in ?DD7; Coke and t#e 9ni8ersity of "ic#igan commissioned an inde!endent study of its bottling !lants by )#e &nergy and ,esources Institute 2)&,I4: -#ic# re!orted in ?DD5 no unsafe c#emicals in t#e -ater su!!ly used;

Ben2ene
In ?DD7: t#e 9nited Ringdom Food Standards Agency !ublis#ed t#e results of its sur8ey of ben+ene le8els in soft drinks: -#ic# tested 61D !roducts and found t#at four contained ben+ene le8els abo8e t#e 'orld Healt# Organi+ation 2'HO4 guidelines for drinking -ater; )#e agency asked for t#ese to be remo8ed from sale;)#e 9nited States Food and Drug Administration released its o-n test results of se8eral soft drinks containing ben+oates and ascorbic or eryt#orbic acid; Fi8e tested drinks contained ben+ene le8els abo8e t#e &n8ironmental Protection AgencyBs recommended standard of 1 !!b; )#e &n8ironmental 'orking Grou! #as unco8ered additional FDA test results t#at s#o-ed t#e follo-ing resultsM Of ?G sam!les of diet soda tested bet-een 6FF1 and ?DD6 for t#e !resence of ben+ene: 6F 2AFN4 #ad amounts of ben+ene in e*cess of t#e federal ta! -ater standard of 1 !!b; A8erage ben+ene le8els -ere 6F !!b: about four times ta! -ater standard; One sam!le contained 11 !!b of ben+ene: 66 fold ta! -ater standards; Des!ite t#ese findings: as of ?DD7: t#e FDA stated its belief t#at =t#e le8els of ben+ene found in soft drinks and ot#er be8erages to date do not !ose a safety concern for consumers=

A&*o-o& *ontent
A re!ort in October ?DD7 demonstrates t#at some soft drinks contain measurable amounts of alco#ol; In some older !re!arations: t#is resulted from natural fermentation used to build t#e carbonation; "odern drinks introduce carbon dio*ide for carbonation: but t#ere is some s!eculation t#at alco#ol mig#t result from fermentation of sugars in an unsterile en8ironment; A small amount of alco#ol is introduced in some soft drinks -#ere alco#ol is used in t#e !re!aration of t#e fla8oring e*tracts;

Healthy Drinks

Ree! in mind t#at #ealt#y drinks s#ould be consumed t#roug#out t#e day: not /ust -it# your meals; If you drink too muc# -it# meals: t#is may dilute your digesti8e en+ymes and lead to !oor digestionS Healt#y drinks are a 8ery im!ortant !art of any #ealt#y meal !lan; Fres# filtered -ater s#ould: of course: make u! a certain !ercentage of t#e fluid you take in: but most !eo!le donBt -ant to drink /ust -ater 2t#oug# if you add some fres# s<uee+ed lemon or lime /uice: you may en/oy it more4; Some ot#er suggestions for #ealt#y drinks include t#e follo-ingM

Herba& in!" ion

Herbal infusions are a great #ealt#y drink o!tion because t#ey are so #ig# in minerals; )#ey can be ser8ed -arm or cold and can take t#e !lace of some of t#e -ater you drink during t#e day;

Ra0 )i&k !ro) 'ra +!ed *o0

,a- milk is a good source of !rotein: calcium: en+ymes and natural #ealt#y fats; If ra- milk is una8ailable or you c#oose to a8oid it: t#e ne*t best ty!e of milk is !asteuri+ed: un#omogeni+ed -#ole milk; '#y -#ole milk3 '#ole milk is best because t#e fat is necessary for t#e assimilation of t#e fat soluble nutrients it contains4; In my area: ra- milk can be !urc#ased at t#e Ha-t#orne Valley Farm in G#ent: (0 and un#omogeni+ed milk is a8ailable from &8anBs Farm#ouse Creamery; )-o national com!anies: (atural by (ature and Strauss Family Creamery: offer organic grass fed milk 2bot# #omogeni+ed and un#omogeni+ed: I belie8e4; )ry A Cam!aign for ,eal "ilk for more resources and kno- t#at Organic Pastures in California s#i!s fres# ra- and cultured dairy !roducts nation-ide;

Non+dair( )i&k
"any of t#ese are currently a8ailable: from soy milk to rice milk to almond milk to #em! milk; I ad8ise staying a-ay from soy milk because it is 8ery !rocessed and not really a natural food; ,ice milk and t#e ot#ers are ok some are 8ery s-eet and #ig# in carbs and again: t#ey are !retty !rocessed: but t#ey are fine in small amounts; I !ersonally like >i8ing Har8est 8anilla #em! milk it is creamy and s-eet good for be8erages t#at you mig#t -ant to s-eeten: like tea; I donBt t#ink !ackaged almond milk tastes t#at good I far !refer #omemade nut milks: and t#ese are easy to make;

Ko)b"*-a
Rombuc#a t#e fi++y drink #ig# in !robiotics and B 8itamins; "ake your o-n or buy it itBs -idely a8ailable at natural food stores: but !retty e*!ensi8e; ItBs -onderful for en#ancing digestion and immunity: and it may be t#e best energy drink I kno-; Anot#er similar o!tion is to make your o-n #omemade fermented soft drinks 2reci!es for t#ese coming soon4; )#ese are muc# better for you t#an #ig# fructose corn syru! and c#emical filled sodas; Commercial soda is best a8oided entirely as it #as no #ealt# benefits and it can u!set t#e mineral balance in your body; )#is can damage your bones and lead to osteo!orosis; Commercial s!orts drinks are not 8ery good for you: eit#er most contain #ig# fructose corn syru!: a 8ery un#ealt#y s-eetener t#at #as been im!licated in t#e obesity e!idemic;

Nat"ra& oda
If you -ant #ealt#y drinks t#at resemble actual soda occasionally: look for t#e naturally s-eetened brands t#at contain absolutely no #ig# fructose corn syru! 2e*; ,eedBs Ginger Bre- is deliciously s!icy and it #as some actual #ealt# benefitsJ naturally s-eetened root beers made from #erbal ingredients are also a8ailable4; Fruit fla8ored =sodas= made by com!anies like I++e are 8ery tasty: and c#ildren usually lo8e t#em;

Or'ani* bott&ed 3"i*e

Organic /uices t#at are diluted -it# !ure filtered -ater: s!arkling mineral -ater or selt+er 2>ake-ood and Biotta are t-o of my fa8orite /uice brands4 are delicious; >ook for /uices made from fruits t#at are e*ce!tionally nutritious: suc# as !omegranate and acai: and try to use mostly -ater and /ust a little /uice for fla8or: as /uice is #ig# in sugar; Coconut -ater is also 8ery good t#e brand O;(;& makes a lo8ely coconut -ater in ase!tic !ackagingJ t#ey make some ot#er 8ery interesting /uice like drinks: as -ell: -it# fla8ors suc# as ama+on acai berry: cas#e-: and coffee berry; Vita Coco and Lico make similar #ig# <uality !roducts;

Ho)e)ade 3"i*e and )oot-ie

Vegetable or fruit /uices made fres# in a /uicer are -onderful #ealt#y drinks; )#e only do-nside is t#e cleaning of t#e /uicer: but t#e Bre8ille .uice Fountain gets #ig# marks for being easy to use and clean; Smoot#ies can be !urc#ased: but t#ey are muc# #ealt#ier and less e*!ensi8e if you make t#em at #ome; )#ey are easy to make: es!ecially if you use a #ig# s!eed blender suc# as a Blendtec or a Vita mi*; 0ou are only limited by your imagination -#en it comes to -#at you can !ut in a smoot#ie see #ealt#y smoot#ies for more information and reci!es;

Or'ani* *o!!ee and or'ani* b&a*k tea

Organic coffee and black tea are not at t#e to! of t#e list of #ealt#y drinks: but t#ey are o;k; !ro8ided you drink t#em in moderation 2no more t#an 6 ? cu!s%daily; It is im!ortant to drink organic coffee and tea so t#at you do not ingest un-anted c#emicals; It is also im!ortant to look for fair trade: s#ade gro-n coffee because in t#is -ay you are su!!orting organic and sustainable farming !ractices t#at benefit t#e en8ironment: as -ell as ensuring -orkers are !aid a !aid a fair -age for t#eir !roduct; I do not suggest drinking too muc# coffee or tea because you -ill be ad8ersely affected by t#e caffeine 2and if you are not in good #ealt# or if you donBt e8en en/oy your coffee or tea but drink it solely to gi8e you energy: I suggest you gi8e it u! altoget#er4; Definitely a8oid coffee if you are trying to get !regnant of if you are already !regnant;

1reen tea and (erba )ate

Green tea is one of t#e best #ealt#y drinks it does #a8e some caffeine but it is a great source of antio*idants and may #el! -it# -eig#t loss and -eig#t maintenance; I en/oy green tea fre<uently: eit#er !lain or in t#e form of a Green )ea >atte; 0erba mate is a #ealt#y #erbal drink made from t#e lea8es of a tree t#at gro-s in t#e Sout# American rainforest; It #as a little caffeine but is #ig# in nutrients: as -ell; "y fa8orite brand is GuayakiM t#ey make loose leaf mate: mate tea bags: and bottled yerba mate ice tea;

A&&+nat"ra& *o!!ee "b tit"te

Coffee substitutes may be grain or #erbal based; Cafi* and Pero are made from roasted barley and c#icory and t#ey make a dark and ric# coffee like #ealt#y drink es!ecially -#en made -it# ra- cream and a little ra- #oney; ,a/aBs Cu! and )eecino make #erbal coffee substitutes t#at are #ig# in antio*idants; )eecino can be bre-ed /ust like coffee I en/oy it -#en made in a frenc# !ress -it# some 8anilla #em! milk;

Herba& tea
Organic #erbal teas t#at do not contain caffeine can be -arming and comforting #ealt#y drinks; "int and c#amomile are bot# good c#oices after a meal: as t#ey !romote good digestion: but t#ere are numerous ty!es of #erbal teas a8ailable almost e8ery-#ere ,e!ublic of )ea and (umi are t-o brands I like a lot; A little ste8ia or ra- #oney may be added to s-eeten your tea: if desired; Anot#er one of my !ersonal fa8orite #erbal teas is Good &art# Organic 2=original fla8or=4; It #as a nice s!icy taste but is 8ery s-eet on its o-n: and does not re<uire any added s-eetener;

Or'ani* beer and 0ine

If you are going to indulge in beer and -ine occasionally: -#y not s-itc# to organic3 )#ese are cultured%fermented be8erages: after all: and t#ey can only be better for you -#en made -it# gra!es and ot#er ingredients t#at #a8e not been s!rayed -it# !esticides; "ore and more com!anies are offering organic 8arieties t#ese com!anies s#ould be su!!orted for t#eir commitment to organic and biodynamic farming !ractices t#at are so muc# better for t#e en8ironment; )#e more demand increases: t#e more -e -ill see ne- #ealt#ier !roducts in t#e market!lace; C#eck out t#e )#e Organic 'ine Com!any for more information; Coo! America #as a great article on organic beer and -ine -it# a list of great resources at t#e end;

If you are t#e ty!e -#o likes to undertake an ad8enture in t#e kitc#en e8ery so often: you could also try to make your o-n -ine: beer: or ot#er alco#olic be8erage; I !ersonally #a8e #ad mi*ed results in t#is de!artment; I once made dandelion -ine and found it !retty un!alatable: but I also made a delicious mead 2fermented #oney -ine4 for my momBs -edding;;; 2Definitely a8oid all alco#ol: t#oug#: if you #a8e a !ersonal or family #istory of alco#olism: you are !regnant: or if you are trying to concei8e4;

Ot-er -ea&t-( drink

)-o more #ealt#y drinks to consider areM T 'arm c#icken stock; )#is can be en/oyed anytime of t#e day; 0ou can add a little miso or coconut milk 2or bot#4 to it: as -ell; I al-ays drink t#is -#en I am not feeling -ell itBs a natural immune booster; T A!!le cider 8inegar or #erbal 8inegar or lemon /uice mi*ed -it# -arm -ater and a bit of ma!le syru! or ra- #oney 8ery cleansing and one of my drinks of c#oice -#en I am trying to a8oid all caffeine: do a deto*: etc;

Feedba*k !ro) *" to)er abo"t So!t Drink 4 Hea&t- Drink

/0 W+) &!( %oft !"#$% f"11)2
A soft drink is a be8erage: often carbonated: t#at does not contain alco#ol; Carbonated soft drinks are more commonly kno-n as soda: !o!: tonic: or soda !o! in !arts of t#e 9nited States and Canada: or fi++y drinks in t#e 9;R;J sometimes called minerals in Ireland; )#e name =soft drink= s!ecifies a lack of alco#ol by -ay of contrast to t#e term =#ard drink=; )#e term =drink=: -#ile nominally neutral: often carries connotations of alco#olic content; Be8erages like colas: s!arkling -ater: iced tea: lemonade: s<uas#: and fruit !unc# are among t#e most common ty!es of soft drinks: -#ile #ot c#ocolate: #ot tea: coffee: milk: ta! -ater: alco#ol: and milks#akes do not fall into t#is classification;

3 R(&%o#% To /4"t D!"#$"#5 So & D!"#$% 6A# Ho7 To Do It8

Do )o4 !"#$ %o & !"#$%2 Ho7 oft(# o )o4 !"#$ "t2
'#en I -as young: I -as an a8id drinker of Coca Cola and ot#er soft drinks; Actually: I -as !retty muc# a coke addict; I could ne8er get !ast a day -it#out drinking Coca Cola; It -as normal for me to #a8e days -#en I -ould finis# almost a -#ole 6;1 liter coke bottle; As I gre- u!: I became more conscious of t#e need to be #ealt#y; I started to relook into my diet: including my sta!le drink of Coke and soda; O8er time: I reali+ed Coke is actually <uite detrimental to our #ealt# U so muc# so t#at I -onder -#y it e8en became suc# an ubi<uitous drinkS In my !ursuit for a #ealt#ier life: I made t#e decision to <uit drinking Coke at 65; I started to slo-ly forgo Coca Cola and soda drinks; '#en I reac#ed my early ?Ds: t#ey -ere almost com!letely out of my diet; In t#e rare occasions -#ere I do drink it: I -ould find t#e taste e*cessi8ely s-eet: acidic and un!alatable; '#en I look back: it -as #ard for me to e8en fat#om myself !utting so muc# of t#is c#emical /unk into my body -#en I -as younger; Here is a list of 1 to! reasons -#y you s#ould /ust <uit drinking Coca Cola and soda drinks;

9. Co4#t(!&*t":( to W("5+t Lo%% Effo!t%.

One EEDml can of Coke contains around 67D calories; Assuming you drink one can of Coke e8erydayM t#atVs G5DD e*tra calories e8ery mont# or 6;Glbs; In a year: t#at adds u! to 1A:7DD e*tra calories or 67;5lbsS Granted: you -ill not be gaining an absolute 67;5lbs since our body metabolism ada!ts accordingly from consuming more%less calories: but you -ill still be gaining an e*tra layer of -eig#t /ust by drinking Coke%soda drinks o8er ot#er #ealt#ier: lo-er calories o!tions; Contrary to !o!ular belief: Diet Coke%soda is counteracti8e to -eig#t loss efforts as -ell; I used to t#ink Diet Coke s#ould be a diet sta!le -#en I -as trying to lose -eig#t: -#ic# I later I found out -asnVt t#e case at all;Diet soda #as been found to increase !ossibility of -eig#t gain by G6N; '#ile t#ere are many t#eories e*!laining t#is counter intuiti8e finding: I t#oug#t to test t#is out for myself; I tried t#e follo-ing t-o scenarios in se!arate stretc#es of timeM one drinking diet coke and anot#er drinking /ust -ater; )#e result3 I found a muc# #ig#er tendency to go into binging attacks -#en I drink diet coke; )#e most !lausible e*!lanation I found is artificial sugar in diet sodas confuses your body -#en it tastes somet#ing s-eet t#at isnVt sugar; As a result: it makes your body cra8e for actual: s-eet food; So -#ile you may be taking in D calories from drinking diet soda: t#ere is a #ig#er likeli#ood you -ill grab consume more food after drinking t#e soda: -#ic# t#en leads to -eig#t gain;

;. St&"#% &# *o!!o (% )o4! t((t+.

Coca Cola and sodas -it# colorings stain yourteet#: as many are already a-are; In addition: t#ey #a8e been s#o-n to destroy 6D times more teet# material t#an fruit /uices in /ust t#e first t#ree minutes of drinking in a test; Slices of enamel -ere !laced in Coke and ot#er carbonated drinks for G5 #ours: -#ere t#ere -as a 1N -eig#t loss of t#e enamel in t#e end; )#e #ig# acidity content 2!H ?;DWG;D4 causes corrosion of your enamel; Granted: lab conditions do not mirror reality: but t#e corrosi8e effect of Coke on your teet# is somet#ing t#at accumulates o8er time;

3. L"<"t( +) !&t"o#.
Coke and soft drinks contain caffeine: -#ic# is a diuretic; A diuretic is a drug t#at s!eeds u! t#e rate of urine !roduction U meaning it remo8es -ater from your body; '#ile you can get your t#irst <uenc#ed -#en drinking Coke: you do not get as #ydrated as com!ared to if you /ust drink !ure -ater;

4. A!t"f"*"&, %t"<4,&#t 7+"*+ &,t(!% )o4! <"# .

Caffeine is also a !syc#oacti8e stimulant drug; It affects t#e central ner8ous system and alters brain function: resulting in tem!orary c#anges in !erce!tion: mood: consciousness and be#a8ior; By increasing t#e le8els of adrenaline 2a stress #ormone4 in your body: you end off setting off feelings of an*iety and tension in your body; Instead of being able to o!erate as a fully conscious being: you end u! #a8ing less control of your t#oug#ts: emotions and be#a8ior; I noticed t#at -#ene8er I do drink Coca Cola or soda: my mental t#inking is not as clear; It feels as t#oug# my t#oug#ts become more ra!id: /umbled and #a!#a+ard; &8en t#oug# IVm su!!osedly more alert: IVm not fully in control of t#e #ig#er faculties of my mind; It feels more like my mind is o!erating by itself and my conscious self is only allo-ed to obser8e in t#e background to gi8e limited in!uts; If t#is -as in t#e !ast -#ere I -as drinking Coke e8eryday: I -ould ne8er #a8e been able to make t#is obser8ation; Ho-e8er: drinking Coke after being Coke%soda free for many mont#s made t#e contrast 8ery stark to me;

3. C&4%(% "#%o<#"& &# %,((="#5 "%o! (!%.

)#e caffeine !re8ents dro-siness by 2i4 blocking t#e effects of #ormones serotonin and melatonin and 2ii4 blocking adenosine rece!tors 2slee! inducers4 from being binded; A!art from causing insomnia: it also !re8ents you from getting t#e full benefits of slee!: as t#e e*cer!t belo- from Ho- Stuff 'orks s#o-sM )#e most im!ortant long term !roblem 2of caffeine4 is t#e effect 2it4 #as on slee!; Adenosine rece!tion 2slee! inducers4 is im!ortant to slee!: and es!ecially to dee! slee!; )#e #alf life of caffeine in your body is about si* #ours; )#at means t#at if you consume a big cu! of coffee -it# ?DD mg of caffeine in it at EMDD !;m;: by FMDD !;m; about 6DD mg of t#at caffeine is still in your system; 0ou may be able to fall aslee!: but your body -ill !robably miss out on t#e benefits of dee! slee!; )#e last time I drank 2diet4 coke: it ke!t me u! all nig#t until 7am: e8en t#oug# I tried turning in at ?am; "y mind /ust -ent into o8erdri8e mode and I could not slee! e8en t#oug# my body felt !#ysically tired; If you drink coke%soda and you are finding it #ard to manage your slee!ing sc#edule: it mig#t be t#e caffeine causing t#e !roblem; )#e !roblem is furt#er aggra8ated if you are a naturally #y!eracti8e !erson too 2like me4; '#ile you may a!!reciate caffeine for kee!ing you a-ake for a !articular morning meeting or !resentation: bear in mind t#at t#e boost is only tem!oraryand at t#e e*!ense of t#e natural functions of your mind 2see !oint 1 abo8e4; '#ile you may feel more alert after a dose of caffeine: it is /ust a stimulated feeling; '#ene8er I consume caffeine: I feel like my mind #as been !ried a-ake beyond its

desires; &8en t#oug# t#e lig#ts are on in my brain: I can only !erform lo- le8el tasks -#ic# do not re<uire muc# t#inking; Hig#er functions of my mind seem to be beyond me; I !retty muc# feel like a +ombie -alking around -it# limited mental ca!acities and a body #ea8y as lead; )o make t#ings -orse: after t#e initial effects -ear off: I am left -it# a state of fatigue -orse t#an beforesince I -as denying your body of t#e rest it deser8ed; )o <uote .acob )eitelbaum: XCaffeine is an energy loan s#ark; '#at it lends you in t#e morning it takes back -it# #ea8y interest in t#e afternoon;Y

Ho0 To 5"it Drinkin' Coke / Soda S"**e !"&&(6

So, +o7 *&# )o4 >4"t *o$( &# %oft !"#$%2
6; Identify a substitute drink 2t#atVs #ealt#ier4; For me: after I <uit drinking soda: my natural inclinations for drinks areM 264 Plain -ater U 2nearly4 free: #ealt#y: gi8es a fountain of benefits; DoesnVt get any better t#an t#is; If you are to dine outside: !lain%mineral -ater -ill al-ays be a reliable o!tion; 2?4 Fruit and%or 8egetable smoot#ies -#ic# I make myself using my blender; I -ould recommend not to substitute it -it# coffee U t#e #ig#er caffeine le8els makes it an un#ealt#y drink as -ell 2more t#an ? times com!ared to Coke: on a !er o+ basis4; I !ersonally do not drink coffee because of t#at; I #a8e also ne8er been fond of t#e taste of coffee any-ay U it #as a bitter undertone -#ic# does not sit so -ell -it# my taste buds; ?; Get rid of t#e soda drinks in t#e fridge; ,emo8e all traces of Coke and soda drinks inside your fridge; It may seem like a -aste but itVs better t#an do-ning t#em into your body and ruining it; E; Z;And sto! buying t#em #ome; After you eliminate t#e remaining traces of t#ose drinks: donVt !urc#ase t#em anymoreS )ell your family 2or #ousemates if you li8e -it# ot#er !eo!le4 about your goal and tell t#em to sto! buying t#e drinks; Better yet: educate t#em on -#y t#ey s#ould <uit drinking and get t#em to <uit as -ell; If t#is is not !ossible: ask for t#eir #el! to !ut t#e drinks out of your side; G; )ell your friends of your goal; )#is -ay: you are accountable to t#em as -ell; 0our friends can ser8e as gatekee!ers of your decision; 1; "entally block out t#e soda section in t#e menu -#en you dine outside; Since you are going to gi8e u! sodas: t#ere is no need for you to look at t#e soda section; )#is !re8ents any second t#oug#ts; 7; &nsure you #a8e enoug# slee!; So you do not #a8e to resort to drinking caffeinated sodas to kee! you a-ake later in t#e day; A; Ree! a record of t#e days you go -it#out drinking Coke or sodas; "ark it on your calendar if you #a8e one; '#en you start seeing a -#ole succession of soda free days: you -ill be tem!ted to kee! t#e ball rolling; 5; Perse8ere; As you start cutting a-ay Coke and sodas from your life: you may find -it#dra-al sym!toms in t#e first -eek 2de!ending on #o- #ea8y a drinker you -ere before4; )#ese sym!toms may come in t#e form of restlessness: an*iety: cra8ings to drink again; Pus# t#roug#S )#ey -ill start melting a-ay after a fe- days in t#e face of your determination;

)ry it and see #o- it -orks for you C#ances are: as you start freeing yourself of Coca Cola and soda drinks: you -ill find your body feels so muc# more refres#ed and cleansed; 0ou can feel yourself becoming #ealt#ier; 0our t#inking becomes clearer as -ell;

7 Rea on 8-( ,eo#&e Drink Soda 4 9: Rea on To 1i$e U# Soda Drinkin'

"ost of us drink soda; Some drink more t#an ot#ers; And !robably many regular soda drinkers are a-are t#at soft drinks are bad for t#e #ealt#; At t#e same time: 9nited States ranks first among countries in soft drink consum!tion; I t#ink -e need to kno- more about t#is drink t#at -e lo8e so muc#; And so #ere are 5 reasons -#y -e drink sodaM

9. It?% V(!) T&%t)@

)#e taste could be one t#ing t#at gets us addicted to drinking soda: it is delicious; In fact: it is so good: t#at many !eo!le drink it -it# e8ery meal S

;. It?% E:(!)7+(!(@
&8en if you -anted to drink somet#ing else: you -ould be #ard !ressed to find it as !rominently dis!layed in 8ending mac#ines: at fast food c#ains: and su!ermarket c#eckouts; 0ou mig#t not reali+e #o- ubi<uitous Coke: Pe!si: and t#e like are in our society until you try to sto! drinking soda;

3. Co#:(#"(#*(, AG!&'-#-GoA@
)#e most addicti8e t#ing about soda is t#e con8enience; If you -ant somet#ing <uick or are in a #urry: it is so easy to grab and con8enient to drink;

4. .!o<ot"o# &# A :(!t"%"#5

Soft drinks are #ea8ily consumed in !art because com!anies !romote t#em 8igorously Billions of dollars are s!end on ad8ertising sodas and market t#em e8ery-#ere in stores: restaurants: gas stations: museums: and e8en sc#ools;

3. So & H&'"t
For some !eo!le: drinking se8eral sodas a day is a force of #abit; 0ou kno- drinking soda is a #abit -#en you find yourself going to t#e grocery store at 6D !;m; because your refrigerator is ta!!ed out;

B. It I% C+(&=
Soda may be !retty ine*!ensi8e -#en com!ared -it# fruit /uice and milk; 'it# combo meals: a large soda is only an e*tra dollar: and you get friesS

C. T+"!%t
Often !eo!le drink soda to <uenc# t#e t#irst; Ho-e8er: t#is is !robably t#e -orst time to drink soda: because -#en you are 8ery t#irsty or de#ydrated you #a8e lo- le8els of sali8a; And sali8a #el!s to neutrali+e acids 2soda is t#e most acidic be8erage you can buy4 and -as# your teet# clean;

8. C&ff("#( A

"*t"o#

"any soft drinks contain caffeine and caffeine is mildly addicti8e; )#is fact is !art of t#e reason soda is suc# a #ard #abit to break; If youBre addicted to t#e caffeine in soda: youBre really #a8ing t-o #abits t#e soda #abit and t#e caffeine #abit;

9: Rea on To Sto# Drinkin' Soda

)#ese -ere reasons -#y -e drink soda and #ere are 67 !o-erful reasons to gi8e u! soda drinking; Do you kno- t#e e*tent to -#ic# drinking carbonated: caffeinated: sugared: or artificially s-eetened be8erages #arms your body3 Gi8ing u! soft drinks can be one of t#e best t#ings you can do to im!ro8e your #ealt#;

9. So & I% U%(,(%%.
First of all: t#ere are no nutritionally beneficial com!onents in soft drinks; Soft drinks mostly consist of filtered -ater and refined sugars; 0et t#e a8erage American drinks about 1A gallons of soft drinks eac# year;

;. W("5+t G&"# D O'(%"t)

"any !eo!le eit#er forget or donBt reali+e #o- many e*tra calories t#ey consume in -#at t#ey drink; Drinking a single EED ml can a day of sugary drinks translates to more t#an 6lb of -eig#t gain e8ery mont#; Se8eral scientific studies #a8e !ro8ided e*!erimental e8idence t#at soft drinks are directly related to -eig#t gain; )#e relations#i! bet-een soft drink consum!tion and body -eig#t is so strong t#at researc#ers? calculate t#at for eac# additional soda consumed: t#e risk of obesity increases 6;7 times; According to t#e results of #ig# <uality studyE reducing consum!tion of sugar s-eetened be8erages #el!ed reduce body mass inde* in t#e #ea8iest teenagers;

3. D"&'(t(%
)#is is a conse<uence of [?; Anyt#ing t#at !romotes -eig#t gain increases t#e risk of diabetes; Drinking soda not only contributes to making !eo!le fat: but it also stresses t#e bodyBs ability to !rocess sugar1; Some scientists no- sus!ect t#at t#e s-eet stuff may #el! e*!lain -#y t#e number of Americans -it# ty!e ? diabetes #as tri!led from 7;7 million in 6F5D to ?D;5 million today; ,a!idly absorbed carbo#ydrates like #ig# fructose corn syru! !ut more strain on insulin !roducing cells t#an ot#er foods; '#en sugar enters t#e bloodstream <uickly: t#e !ancreas #as to secrete large amounts of insulin for t#e body to !rocess it; Some scientists belie8e t#at t#e unceasing demands t#at a soda #abit !laces on t#e !ancreas may ultimately lea8e it unable to kee! u! -it# t#e bodyBs need for insulin; Also: insulin itself becomes less effecti8e at !rocessing sugarJ bot# conditions contribute to t#e risk of de8elo!ing diabetes; Interestingly: -omen -#o consumed a lot of fruit /uice -#ic# is #ig# in natural fructose -ere not at increased risk of diabetes: leading researc#ers to s!eculate t#at naturally occurring sugars may #a8e different metabolic effects t#an added sugars; )#ey also s!eculate t#at 8itamins: minerals: fiber: and !#ytoc#emicals in fruit /uices may #a8e a !rotecti8e effect against -eig#t gain and diabetes: counterbalancing t#e ad8erse effects of sugar;

,esearc#ers from Brig#am and 'omenBs Hos!ital in Boston and Har8ard "edical Sc#oolG analy+ed data from t#e (ursesB Healt# Study II: a trial tracking t#e #ealt# of more t#an 16:DDD -omen; (one of t#e !artici!ants #ad diabetes at t#e onset of t#e study in 6FF6; O8er t#e follo-ing 5 years: AG6 -omen -ere diagnosed -it# t#e disease; ,esearc#ers found t#at -omen -#o drank one or more sugary drinks a day gained more -eig#t and -ere 5EN more likely to de8elo! ty!e ? diabetes t#an t#ose -#o imbibed less t#an once a mont#;

4. W(&$(#( Bo#(% A# R"%$ Of O%t(o=o!o%"%

Fre<uent consum!tion of soft drinks may also increase t#e risk of osteo!orosis:7 es!ecially in !eo!le -#o drink soft drinks instead of calcium ric# milkA; Hig# soda consum!tion 2!articularly cola614 in c#ildren !oses a significant risk factor for im!aired calcification of gro-ing bones; In t#e 6F1Ds: c#ildren drank E cu!s of milk for e8ery 6 cu! of sugary drinks; )oday t#at ratio is re8ersedM E cu!s of sugary drinks for e8ery cu! of milk; )ellingly: osteo!orosis is a ma/or #ealt# t#reat for GG million Americans; "ost e*!erts no- say t#at t#e real cul!rit is sodaBs dis!lacement of milk in t#e diet: t#oug# some scientists belie8e t#at t#e acidity of colas may be -eakening bones by !romoting t#e loss of calcium;

3. D(#t&, C&!"(% A# E!o%"o#

Soda eats u! and dissol8es t#e toot# enamel5; ,esearc#esF say t#at soft drinks are res!onsible for doubling or tri!ling t#e incidence of toot# decay; )#e acidity can dissol8e t#e mineral content of t#e enamel: making t#e teet# -eaker: more sensiti8e: and more susce!tible to decay; SodaBs acidity makes it e8en -orse for teet# t#an t#e solid sugar found in candy; Dental e*!erts continue to urge t#at !eo!le drink less soda !o!: es!ecially bet-een meals: to !re8ent toot# decay and dental erosion;

B. K" #() D&<&5(

Peo!le -#o do-n sugary drinks donBt feel as full as t#ose -#o consume t#e same amount of calories in solid food; )#is t#eory -as born out by researc#ers at Purdue 9ni8ersity -#o: in ?DDD: ga8e 61 8olunteers G1D calories a day of eit#er soda or /elly beans for a mont# and t#en s-itc#ed t#em for t#e ne*t mont#: -#ile monitoring t#eir total calories; )#e candy eaters com!ensated for t#e e*tra calories by eating less food and maintained t#eir -eig#tJ during t#e soda !#ase: t#e 8olunteers ate more and gained 2"S( Healt#4 )#ere is good e8idence t#at cola be8erages can increase t#e risk of kidney !roblems: more so t#an non cola sodas; ,esearc#es clearly demonstrated t#at large <uantities of cola result in en#anced kidney stone formation67 6A; If youBre -ondering e*actly #o- soft drinks cause kidney stones: itBs because of t#eir acidity and radical mineral imbalances; 0our body must buffer t#e acidity of soft drinks -it# calcium from your o-n bones; As t#is calcium is eliminated t#roug# your urine: it slo-ly forms kidney stones; In a study !ublis#ed in t#e /ournal &!idemiology6G: t#e team com!ared t#e dietary #abits of G71 !eo!le -it# c#ronic kidney disease and G7A #ealt#y !eo!le; After controlling for 8arious factors: t#e team found t#at drinking t-o or more colas a day 2-#et#er artificially s-eetened or regular4 -as linked to a t-ofold risk of c#ronic kidney disease;

C. I#*!(&%( B,oo .!(%%4!(

&*!erts #a8e reasons to belie8e t#at o8erconsum!tion of fructose: !articularly in t#e form of soft drinks: leads to an increase in blood !ressure??;

8. L"$(,) To C&4%( H(&!t'4!#

Soft drink consum!tion is a strong !redictor of #eartburn?D ?6;

9. M(t&'o,"* S)# !o<( R"%$ E&*to!

Soft drink consum!tion is a significant risk factor for de8elo!ing of metabolic syndrome65: a combination of t#e sym!toms suc# as #ig# blood !ressure: obesity: #ig# c#olesterol: and insulin resistance;

9F. H&!<f4, Eff(*t% O# L":(!

)#ere is e8idence t#at consum!tion of too many soft drinks !uts you under increased risk for li8er cirr#osis similar to -#at c#ronic alco#olics #a8e6F;

99. I<=&"!( D"5(%t":( S)%t(<

Soda: no matter -#o makes it: is t#e most acidic be8erage you can buy: -it# a !H of about ?;16: about t#e same as 8inegar: but t#e sugar content disguises t#e acidity; )o !ut t#at into !ers!ecti8e: consider t#at battery acid #as a !H of 6 and !ure -ater #as a !H le8el of A; Interesting factM A !H belo- G or abo8e 6D -ill kill most fis# and 8ery fe- animals can tolerate -aters -it# a !H belo- E or abo8e 66; '#y does t#at matter3 )#roug#out t#e digesti8e system: t#at starts from t#e mout# and ends u! at t#e anus only t#e stomac# can resist an acidic en8ironment u! to !H ?;D; But before t#e acidity of soft drink reac#es t#e stomac# it !asses t#roug# all t#e ot#er organs in8ol8ed in t#e digesti8e system t#us causing an abnormal acidic en8ironment; )#e linings of t#e mout#: !#aryn* and eso!#agus are #ig#ly sensiti8e to acids; )#e !#os!#oric acid !resent in soft drink com!etes -it# t#e #ydroc#loric acid of t#e stomac# and affects its functions; '#en t#e stomac# becomes ineffecti8e: food remains undigested causing indigestion: gassiness or bloating 2s-elling of stomac#4;

9;. D(+) !&t"o#

Anot#er !roblem -it# sodas is t#at t#ey act as de#ydrating diuretics; Bot# caffeine and sugar cause de#ydration; Caffeine is a diuretic and causes an increase in urine 8olume; Hig# concentration of sugar is dra-ing off -ater because your kidneys try to e*!el t#e e*cess sugar out of t#e blood; '#en you drink a caffeinated soda to <uenc# your t#irst: you -ill actually become t#irstier;

93. H"5+ C&ff("#( Co#t(#t

Anot#er ad8antage of a8oiding sodas is t#at you -ill a8oid t#e unnecessary caffeine; Soda drinks are a ma/or source of caffeine in t#e American diet; Hig# doses of caffeine can cause irritability: restlessness: tension: insomnia: #ig# blood !ressure: gastrointestinal disturbance: e*cessi8e urination: irregular #eartbeat and ot#er side effects;

94. To-"#% - A%=&!t&<(

If you t#ink diet soda is better t#ink again; )#e !oison in diet soda is an artificial s-eetener as!artame; As!artame is made u! of t#ree c#emicalsM as!artic acid: !#enylalanine: and met#anol; It is used because itBs about ?DD times s-eeter t#an table sugar; Des!ite 9S FDA a!!ro8al as a =safe= food additi8e: as!artame is one of t#e most dangerous substances added to foods; After you drink an as!artame s-eetened !roduct: as!artame breaks do-n into its starting com!onentsM !#enylalanine: as!artic acid: and met#anol 2t#at furt#er con8erts to formalde#yde and formic acid: -#ic# are kno-n carcinogens;4; )#ere are o8er F? different #ealt# side effects associated -it# as!artame consum!tion6D 6E;

93. .o%%"',( C(,, D&<&5( A'","t)

A ne- #ealt# scare eru!ted o8er soft drinks recently amid e8idence t#at t#ey may cause serious cell damage; ,esearc# from a Britis# uni8ersity suggests a common !reser8ati8e &?66: kno-n as sodium ben+oate: found in drinks suc# as Fanta and Pe!si "a* #as t#e ability to s-itc# off 8ital !arts of D(A; Sodium ben+oate occurs in small amounts naturally in berries: but is used in large <uantities to !re8ent mould in soft drinks;

9B. T+(!( A!( So M&#) H(&,t+) A,t(!#&t":(%@

Soda re!laces #ealt#ier drinks; By drinking soda: you cut t#e intake of fres# /uices: milk: and e8en -ater and de!ri8e yourself from essential 8itamins and minerals; T 'ater; 'ater is t#e best drink in t#e -orld; T )ea; Any kind of tea #erbal: green or black is ric# in antio*idants: -#ic# -ere s#o-n to !rotects t#e body form many #ealt# !roblems; T 6DDN .uice; Fruit /uice can be also useful for fla8oring your -ater and teas;

W+) H(&,t+) .(o=,( A:o" T+( Soft D!"#$%2

I -ould like to s#are -it# you a certain to!ic t#at is 8ery im!ortant -#en you are trying to lose -eig#t; )#at is if you -ant to lose -eig#t: you must a8oid soft drinks; 0ou see t#ere are many reasons -#y many !eo!le become obese; One reason is t#at t#is !eo!le constantly consume t#e -rong kind of food and drinks -#ic# -ill add -eig#t to t#eir body; In t#is to!ic I am going to discuss t#e link bet-een soft drink and obesity; Studies #a8e s#o-n t#at many obese !eo!le drink it during t#eir meal time; 0ou may asked: is it really #armful3 Do you kno- t#at it contains em!ty calories3 &m!ty calories #a8e no nutritional 8alue at all; '#en you drink it: all you do is !utting in sugar into your body; Studies #a8e s#o-n t#at a can ?1Dml contains at least F teas!oons of sugar; In s#ort you are /ust !um!ing sugar into your body; A soft drink #as no nutritional 8alue at all; )o make matter -orse modern soft drinks no- add synt#etic sugar t#at allo-s you to drink more; 0ou see in t#e !ast: you could not consume more t#an E glasses -it#out t#ro-ing out because #uman being /ust cannot take so muc# sugar in t#e body; )#e !roblem is -it# synt#etic sugar it allo-s a !erson to drink muc# more -it#out t#ro-ing out; )o be fair: I kno- t#ey are 8ery tasty and nice; Ho-e8er if you really -ant to loss -eig#t and be #ealt#y: you need to sto! drinking; Ho-e8er if for some reason you cannot sto! drinking: at least try to cut it intake; I #a8e s#o-n you 8ery carefully t#at t#e link bet-een soft drink and obesity is 8ery real; )#e ne*t time instead of drinking soft drink you s#ould consider drinking -ater;

CONCLUATION
Again after E years: !esticides le8el found in soft drinks -as found -ay abo8e allo-able limits; Coca cola is s!ending <uite a #uge amount on telling !eo!le #oit is safe to kee! drinking t#e soft drinks; )#ey aired a ad; in -#ic# some !estiside e*!erts talks about t#e !esticides le8els; He says t#at t#e e8en t#e #uman milk #as insecticides; Is t#is rele8ant to !esticides found in coca cola3 2-#ic# are being manufactured4; Instead of s!ending money on suc# t#ings: I -onder -#y not t#ey s!end money to reduce t#e insecticide le8els3 Does coca cola t#ink t#at Indians are guinea !igs3 Or somet#ing like t#at3 And #o- can t#ey comment t#at #uman milk contains <uite #ig# le8el !esticides3 Ha8e t#ey done some researc#3 If yes: t#ey must #a8e s!ent <uite a large amount of money in doing soJ instead of reducing t#e le8el of insecticides in t#eir !roducts; And if its true: t#en -#at is Go8t; of India doing3 Is go8ernment slee!ing3 )#ere are many (GOBs in India -#ic# are -orking on suc# issues; Are t#ey slee!ing also3 'ell: I am /ust t#inking; (ot trying to come to any conclusion; )#e conclusion -#ic# I came to is I am going to sto! drinking soft drinks #encefort# 2t#oug# I drink not more t#an 6 EDD ml bottle !er mont# in a year4;

THE END