Sugar Sweetened Beverages and YOUR Children

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and our Children

Hello my friends:

I am writing about a topic that is dear to my heart….Our Children.  When I speak, “Our children”, I am referring to the “world’s children”.

As a mother, doctor and activist, I have been seeing our children  getting bigger and bigger.  They don’t know why they are overweight, and in many cases obese. They just eat what they are allowed to eat. If they see it on TV, and it looks fun and declicious…bang the fish is hooked. The ads have gotten another one.

Did you know:

• A billion dollars is invested  (USA alone) in promoting sugar-sweetenedbeverages (SSB’s) each year?
• Especially to young people during their habit formation years (3-12 yrs.)
• They are everywhere, within reach. alluring, super-sized and Very Cheap.

The reason for this post is because as the African saying goes ” It (truely does )take a village to raise our children.”  My hope is by sharing this information, your eyes are wide open open, and together we can help our kids live happy and healthy lives. We can help them be free of preventable diseases such as diabetes type 2, heart disease, and hypertention.

Lets’s look at a few facts;

A Harvard study concluded that children and adults have more weight gain if they drank SSB’s.

1. There is a clear associated risk of diabetes in those who drink SSB’s.
2. People with a genetic propensity to become fat; doubled their chance of becoming obese if they drank SSB’s
3. People who drink their food eat more. It tricks your body into thinking that you haven’t really eaten anything. As a result, people overeat.
4. SSB’s include; soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, lemonade and fruit juices.
5. We should only be having 3-5 teaspoons of sugar a day. Our Children are having 23 teaspoons per day .

* 1 V Drink has 6 teaspoons of sugar/drink

* 1 Monster has 13 teaspoons of sugar/ drink

* 1 banana has 4.25 teaspoons of sugar/banana

* 1 red bull has 7 teaspoons of sugar/drink

Coca-Cola Co.’s chief scientific and regulatory officer Rhona Applebaum said “soda has been unfairly targetted as the cause of obesity epidemic. She said there are many factors that are linked to weight gain, and that drinks containing sugar can be a part of a healthy and balanced diet.”  True, obesity is complex, however sugar is addictive ( see blog…https://doctorisabel.com/2012/09/24/6-simple-steps-for

I will close with this story about Tony (not his real name), a 10 year old patient of mine. Tony came in to see me with his dad the other day for a cold.  While there I did some opportunistic measurements, his height and weight and he was in the obese range  (yes, even here in New Zealand). I asked him if he would be interested in losing weight. He said “Yes!”,as his eyes started to fill up with tears. “Why?” I asked ….Tony said “because I get bullied at school for my weight.” -kicking-sugar-cravings-health/) and our children are being fed this drug by the suppliers.

It’s our social responsibility to raise our children with eyes wide open.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

Your friend, Isabel

“? 2015, Dr.Isabel@Pure Lifestyle” All Rights ReservedResources:

1.Intake of sugar-sweetend beverages and weight gain: a systemic review.  Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Aug;84(2):274-88

1. Sugary Drinks Linked to Increase Genetic Risk of Obesity.  Bloomberg News Sept. 22 2012
2. Effects of soft drink consumption on nutrition and health: a systemic review and meta-analysis.  Am J Public Health 2007 Apr:97(4):667-75
3. Three New Studies Add to the case Against Sugary Drinks Dr. Ayala Healthy Living Blog Sept 25 2012
4. Increasing Calorie Contribution From Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and 100% Fruit Juices Among US Childen and Adolescents, 1988-2004. Pediatrics Vol 121 No.6 June 1 2008 pp. e1604-e1614.
5. Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Genetic Risk of Obesity. NEJM Sept 21 2012

Sugar-Sweetened Soft Drinks Contribute Significantly to Weight Gain . (zedie.wordpress.com)Related articles

• Studies expand on soda’s role in growing obesity(latimes.com)
• Studies more firmly tie sugary drinks to obesity(news.yahoo.com)