Health News
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom
It?s official ? Americans are drinking way too many sugary drinks. New results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) have documented some scary findings when it comes to consumption of sugary drinks. These include fruit drinks, sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks, and sweetened bottled waters. Surprising to me, this group does not include 100% fruit juice, sweetened teas, or flavored milks, which means that the consumption reported here is likely a very low estimate.
About half of the US population consumes a sugary drink daily. And with all of the focus on trying to get soda machines out of the schools, you might be surprised to know that less than 5% of these drinks were purchased at schools. Most sources were from home (store purchase). On average (meaning many people consume a lot more, some less) men consume nearly 200 calories daily, with women drinking about half that amount, 100 calories.
To me, the scary part of this trend, is that it?s only getting to get worse, with the ability to purchase super-sized bottles and cans of these drinks, for a very low price. Yes, companies are selling down-sized single servings of sodas ? about 7 ounces and 100 calories ? that can support responsible consumption, but the price point is not competitive. For most consumers, the choice of purchasing a 20 ounce soda for the same price as a 1 liter (or sometimes 2 liter!) bottle is not one they are willing to make.
So, for the sake of your teeth and your waistline, choose these drinks carefully, If you enjoy an occasional treat, select a small serving (100 calories or so). Or better yet, select a low-calorie sweetened soda, or seltzer with some lemon or lime added. And skip the 100% juice ? it?s always better to eat your fruit, and not drink it!
- Kentuckians Split On Taxing Sugary Drinks To Pay For Nutrition And Physical-activity Programs, But Like Warning Labels For Such Drinks
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- Calorie Counts On Your Coke And Pepsi Machines Coming In 2013
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- Nyc Deeply Split On Bloomberg Plan To Ban Supersize Sodas
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- Teens Who Drink Sugary Beverages Add 300 Calories A Day To Their Diet, National Survey Finds
American teens who drink pop, energy drinks like Red Bull and other sugar-based beverages like Gatorade are consuming an average of 327 calories a day, the equivalent of two and a half cans of cola, according to an analysis conducted by the National Center...
- Just Say No To Liquid Calories
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Health News
Downsize Those Sugary Drinks!
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom
About half of the US population consumes a sugary drink daily. And with all of the focus on trying to get soda machines out of the schools, you might be surprised to know that less than 5% of these drinks were purchased at schools. Most sources were from home (store purchase). On average (meaning many people consume a lot more, some less) men consume nearly 200 calories daily, with women drinking about half that amount, 100 calories.
To me, the scary part of this trend, is that it?s only getting to get worse, with the ability to purchase super-sized bottles and cans of these drinks, for a very low price. Yes, companies are selling down-sized single servings of sodas ? about 7 ounces and 100 calories ? that can support responsible consumption, but the price point is not competitive. For most consumers, the choice of purchasing a 20 ounce soda for the same price as a 1 liter (or sometimes 2 liter!) bottle is not one they are willing to make.
So, for the sake of your teeth and your waistline, choose these drinks carefully, If you enjoy an occasional treat, select a small serving (100 calories or so). Or better yet, select a low-calorie sweetened soda, or seltzer with some lemon or lime added. And skip the 100% juice ? it?s always better to eat your fruit, and not drink it!
- Kentuckians Split On Taxing Sugary Drinks To Pay For Nutrition And Physical-activity Programs, But Like Warning Labels For Such Drinks
Should soda and other sugary drinks be taxed to fund school nutrition and physical activity programs? Kentucky adults are almost evenly divided on the issue, but the majority of them believe that sodas and sugary drinks should come with a health warning...
- Calorie Counts On Your Coke And Pepsi Machines Coming In 2013
Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, for starters, will start displaying calorie counts on vending machines in an effort to encourage consumers to make lower-calorie choices, starting in 2013. The plan, explains Time magazine, falls in...
- Nyc Deeply Split On Bloomberg Plan To Ban Supersize Sodas
Bloomberg with Linda I. Gibbs, deputy mayor for health. (New York Times photo by Chang W. Lee)In a bold move to curb obesity, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to ban the sale of supersize sodas and other sugary drinks by restaurants,...
- Teens Who Drink Sugary Beverages Add 300 Calories A Day To Their Diet, National Survey Finds
American teens who drink pop, energy drinks like Red Bull and other sugar-based beverages like Gatorade are consuming an average of 327 calories a day, the equivalent of two and a half cans of cola, according to an analysis conducted by the National Center...
- Just Say No To Liquid Calories
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom Why do we always hear so much about ?cutting liquid calories? for a healthier diet? It?s because most of these sources contain loads of calories without any nutritional benefit. Liquid calories are a hidden source of sugars (and...