Bubbles of Death? Is Soda Headed the Way of Cancer Sticks?

      It's funny to think back to the time when I was growing up in the 80's and remember the concept of public smoking in restaurants, on airplanes or on the bus.  A strange thought today!  I can't seem to get my arms around what everyday must have smelled and looked like.  My folks smoked, my friends parents smoked...heck my own siblings were known to steal a cig or two and fire it up...a lot of the time there were multiple people burning one inside our house.  Billows of smoke and piles of ash dominating our lives.   Have you ever watched an old movie and noticed just how many people were smoking?  It always amazes me of how uneducated we were as a general public just a few decades ago and how I just can't quite remember what that world was like and I was living it!

I'm no expert in biology but it seems pretty obvious to me that smoking GREATLY shortens your life. Unless you have a death-wish it should be a habit avoided at all costs.  

     I believe that by 2020 we will be viewing soda and energy drinks in the same light as we look back and view cigarettes now.  As a foolish gamble.  I believe that once people start seeing the ill-effects of these beverages on their own health or the health of those close to them, they will sing a different tune. Like cigarettes, soda has a compounding effect over years of consumption. With cigarette use comes disease like Emphysema, Heart Disease and Cancer; with Soda comes Obesity, Heart Disease and Diabetes.  All killers.

Courtesy of Term Life Insurance

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What's in it?

 
      One serving (12oz can) of soda contains in the upwards of 9 or 10 Teaspoons of sugar.  This is basically any humans maximum suggested Daily intake but most soda drinkers consume at least two per day. Yikes!  Many bodies would immediately puke if they consumed 9 teaspoons of sugar in one serving, but the phosphoric acid put in soda prevents that sensation.  Thanks phosphoric acid! Along with an immense amount of sugar, soda has these additives as well...all linked to health-related issues. 

*Carbonated Water-Decreases oxygen in blood by 25% for up to 3 hours

*Phosphoric & Citric Acid- Eats at tooth enamel and stomach lining.  Also effects blood chemistry and requires calcium to normalize that blood.  This calcium is typically leached from the bones leading to osteoporosis.

*Caffeine- Causes large scale mineral depletion in body and is very addictive!

Here is a great PSA from Trilapse Studios putting this into perspective

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So What?

So... I hit 30 recently and I realized first-hand how our bodies evolve when it comes to metabolism.  I was one of those people that could eat and drink anything in my teens and 20's and wouldn't see any weight gain or notice any difference in how I felt...not so much the case anymore!  I was never a huge soda drinker, but I certainly did partake.  The weirdest thing looking back was I NEVER drank water... always soda.  Things have changed.

     I'm the youngest member of a large family and my parents were well into their late 30's when I was born, so I have first-hand experience with family members and health defects.  Life's hard when you have to deal with a health crisis...heck, its hard when you don't!  I also started a family and have many long term plans and goals.  The answer to me was simple...do my best to stay away from products that have a high probability of causing sickness or disease down the line.

Graphic by Life and Livingness

Should we tax it heavily?

Courtesy of Health Habits

I can't even begin to scratch the surface on the complicated issue of The Soda Tax and whether or not it is a effective vehicle for decreasing soda consumption. As of now, soda is taxed at the normal individual State Tax rate, which averages 6.5% here in Ohio. 

    

Starting in New York, Soda Tax advocates are proposing a "ban" for up to another 5%. 30 other states have show interest in such regulation.  It tends to get political and complicated economically and that's not my intention with this piece.  I think we need a few more years of data on cigarette regulation to decide the true reason for decreased tobacco use... but here are a few interesting facts.

*Congressional Budget Office claims a 2.5% to 5% decreased use for every 10% of cost increase.

*Smoking has decreased at a far greater rate in states with heavy taxes anywhere between 25-40%

*Lower taxing states such as South Carolina have only seen a 5-10% decrease in smokers.

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*Raising prices greatly decreases Youth Smoking

Smoking advocates claimed that higher Federal taxing would cause States to financially suffer and black market sales and theft would increase.  The jury is still out on those claims!

It's hard to be healthy.  It certainly takes effort and knowledge in today's complicated marketing-driven society.  With all those soda ads flying around in front of our eyes we have to apply will-power!  Soda is a deadly drink and with continued consumption will compound and affect your health.  It's hard to remember that Smoker's World that I grew up in and I am very proud that our society has worked to curb that habit.  I hope that in 10 years I can go into a restaurant and the beverage options are SODALESS.  It would definitely be in our best interest! Drink WATER!

Photo Courtesy of www.water.com