What Pop Really Is.

[Fyrliin Feuer]

Soda is just a bunch of empty calories which will either replace healthy foods or add additional calories to your diet. 140 calories You will Get for just drinking Pop, and these aren't the Good Calories your body needs Either (Look up the Good and The Bad Calories if you wish to prove me wrong Here is one Link http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/NewYearNewYou/story?id=3654291&page=1). High fructose corn syrup (sugar) is probably the biggest concern. Ingredients

#1 whey usually contain either high fructose corn syrup or sucrose as the sugar source. Sucrose is split into glucose and fructose in the digestive tract. Many people get diarrhea from large amounts of fructose. As Ed notes, it tends to pull water into the intestines. That reverses the hydration process and causes diarrhea.

#2 If you take a lot of caffeinated soda, you may over dose on caffeine, particularly if you don't use it much away from the run. Caffeine and other xanthines ( tea, chocolate are sources ) cause relaxation of smooth muscle. Net result: urgency along the way. Combine that with the tendency for diarrhea caused by too much fructose, and you're primed for extra potty breaks.

#3 The electrolyte balance of most sodas is terrible for running. Many have no sodium to speak of. Unless you take in other sources of sodium, you may mess up your electrolyte balance and get cramps. If the fructose and caffeine aggravate water loss, that can only make dehydration and cramping more likely.

#4 One 12-ounce can of regular soda pop contains over an ounce of sugar (or about 7 teaspoons). "The sugar is cheap, rotten refined sugar that can only do you damage – diabetes, obesity, tooth decay, and all the rest," observes David Reuben, M.D

#5 The average cola contains 110 Calories.

ASCERTAIN

1. By choosing a diet soda to avoid sugar, you're consuming aspartame. Better known as NutraSweet, it is the sugar substitute used these days in diet soft drinks. Saccharin, previously used, was found to be carcinogenic, as were cyclamates before that. Many health professionals now have serious doubts as to the safety of aspartame, as well.

2. Andrew Weil, M.D., author of a book entitled Natural Health, Natural Medicine, states that "because I have seen a number of patients, mostly women, who report headaches from this substance, I don't regard it as free from toxicity. Women also find that aspartame aggravates PMS (premenstrual syndrome)."8

3. Joseph Weissman, M.D., has this warning about aspartame in diet soda: "If it is stored in warm areas or kept on store shelves for a prolonged period, aspartame will change to methanol, an alcohol that ultimately converts to formaldehyde and formic acid – known carcinogens."9 Remember that next time you walk down the soft drink aisle in your supermarket wondering how long those cans have been sitting there, or next time you see pallets of diet soda stacked in the summer heat outside your local convenience store.

4. When asked which was better, regular pop or diet, Ann Donovan, a certified nutritionist, replied: "Neither! But if you were dying of thirst on a desert island and somebody offered you regular or diet with NutraSweet, go with the regular."

CARAMEL COLOR

1. To change the Color of the Food Product into the color the Consumer expects to see..

2. The International Program on Chemical Safety (IPCS) has concluded that commercially-produced caramel color has the same toxicological properties as caramel produced by cooking or heating sucrose, except for those prepared using ammonium (Class A).||||Despite some claims that caramel is Toxic or Carcinogenic, or leads to intestinal problems, the IPCS has found no evidence of carcinogenicity or mutagenicity in its extensive studies.||||

A. Ammonia caramel, baker's caramel, confectioner's caramel, beer caramelIn the presence of ammonium compounds but no sulfate compounds can be used.

Sulfate ammonia caramel, acid-proof caramel, soft-drink carameIn the presence of both sulfite and ammonium compounds Acidic environments such as soft drinks

3. It is made by a carefully controlled heat treatment of carbohydrates, generally in the presence of acids, alkalies, or salts, in a process called caramelization. It is more fully oxidized than caramel candy and has an odor of burnt sugar and a somewhat bitter taste.

4. It is also addictive, and It's also about 1 million calories per cup. Be forewarned

CAFFEINE

Yes the Classic Worlds all time Favorite Ingredient, Caffeine...

1. There is three to four 12-ounce cans of caffeinated soda

2. Caffeine: increases alertness, and Adensine Tri Phosphate (ATP) production (more muscle fuel) when energy is low.

3. Can lead to Lower Bone Density.

4. The jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, vitamin and mineral depletion, breast lumps, birth defects, perhaps some forms of cancer – these and more are part of the package deal of health problems and risks that come with choosing to consume caffeinated drinks.

5. Taking size into account, the impact of three cans of regular Coke a day on a seven-year-old kid is the same as an adult drinking eight cups of coffee!10Needless to say, physicians – particularly pediatricians – are alarmed. Could it be that the consumption of caffeinated soda pop is contributing to developmental disorders, both physical and mental, in our children? There are many health professionals who would say so. One author puts it this way: "No parent would knowingly give poison to their children; and yet, every time you hand your child a soda pop or flavored drink, you are giving him chemicals that are stored in his body. Is it any wonder that twelve-year-olds die of cancer, teenagers are afflicted with MS, and young men and women commit bizarre acts?"

PHOSPHORIC ACID

1. Phosphoric acid: this is a strong acid which is not good for the digestion during Process

2. an acid used in fertilizers and soaps/detergents and pharmaceuticals and as an additive in cola drinks

3. Is to enhance palatability and to Keep cat foods long.

4. It is sometimes sold under other names, such as "rust remover" or "rust killer."

5. leads to lower bone density.

6. Can cause Kidney Failure.

7. evidence suggests their high levels of phosphoric acid will damage the kidneys.

8. Phosphoric acid is also known to neutralize the hydrochloric acid in our stomachs. This is unfortunate, for we need hydrochloric acid to help us digest our food and utilize its nutrients. It is especially required for calcium utilization. So, not only does phosphoric acid leach calcium from our bones, it also prohibits hydrochloric acid from helping to restore it. Bones and teeth just can't win with this stuff in our diet.

HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP

1. High fructose corn syrup and/or sucrose: generally not good for digestion, so the amount of soda should be limited, and other, better sources of carbos should be the main calorie source.

2. Regularly including these products in your diet has the potential to promote obesity — which, in turn, promotes conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.

3. But recent research — some of which is supported by the beverage industry — suggests that high-fructose corn syrup isn't intrinsically less healthy than other sweeteners, nor is it the root cause of obesity.

Yes, phosphoric acid in colas--and many other sodas, is a binder to restrict the access of calcium to the body...

A lot of Americans do drink a lot of pop, but be aware now some need to turn over to calcium supplements to nourish the lost calcium they have lost in the past.....

If you don't believe me and want to prove me wrong, Make a List of why you should Drink pop, how it helps you out, and make sure it defeats all the purposes on this friendly letter. Ohh also, You be the judge, not me, Its not my body that allows the access of such so called, 'Food', into itself...Remember, what goes into your body, is ripped apart and put into your heart, Also your young, why should you care, you don't feel it....yet....

Edited January 17, 2010 by Fyrliin Feuer

[Der Nister]

I drink diet pop. I like the taste and the caffine.

I'm 5' 8" and weigh 167 lbs. ~ I refuse to give up the few "bad" things that I enjoy.

No offense to you of course. You have the right to feel the way you do but, just like a vegan telling me to not eat steak I would say, "It's my choice and my right".

Many things can kill people.

Fact: A man can die from a heart attack during or shortly after orgasm and, that doesn't stop people from having sex.

Fact: People die in car accidents everday yet, we still drive.

But, thanks for the info.

Edited January 17, 2010 by Der Nister

[KatRN05]

I don't drink pop anymore. My last diet soda was in May 2009 and I haven't had one since. And just because it's diet doesn't mean that it's healthy. Too be honest, I think it's crap just like regular soda.

[Simon Bar Sinister]

for the most part, I stopped drinking pop when I was 12. once in a great while, I'll have a ginger ale or Italian soda. I can count the number of times that happens in a given year on one hand.

#@!

Edited January 17, 2010 by SpammerOvTheGods

[Iris]

Another fact-whore!

Lately, I've been slowly weaning myself down to nothing in the carbonated drinks department. I still am a caffeine addict, though...But I can also mix my own tea these days, so everything is turning out the way I choose it to.

[n0Mad]

There was no poll option for: "Yeah, I pretty much knew all of this already. I've always only been a moderate soda drinker so my habits never changed much as I learned more."

Besides, nothing will make me give up my beloved Root Beer. Except maybe some Cream Soda.

[KatRN05]

Besides, nothing will make me give up my beloved Root Beer. Except maybe some Cream Soda.

I miss root beer. Real root beer, not the root beer flavor syrup I put in my vanilla protein shake.

Edited January 17, 2010 by KatRN05

[creatureofthenyte]

Kinda paraphrasing Der Nister...

There are things far worse then pop, that you could put into your body...like oh I dunno..a knife or heroine..

Obviously pop is not a health drink.

If you drink pop by the keg-full, and get health problems go figure.

Everything in moderation.

It is your choice not to drink it.

However, you can eat the healthiest foods and drink the healthiest drinks, but if you are not physically active person..

Healthy food & drink Can make you fat.

A little pop every now and then is Not going to kill or make you fat.

Perhaps I could be seen as alittle biased since I happen to work for a pop company,

but I am really tired seeing pop being demonized and characterized as one of the worst, and or deadliest creations known to man.

Yeah its not the greatest thing for you,

but it certainly is not the worst either,

and yet time and time again I see things like this thread that make pop take the fall for peoples' poor lifestyle choices....

I'm not tryin to sound hostile, but when I read stuff like this,

it makes me think back to when Marilyn Manson got blamed for supposedly influencing the kids that did the Columbine shootings; never ever examine the upbringing, its always the musician's fault..always.

[candyman]

Go around reading the labels on almost all the foods at the store...its not pretty but its not like its taking your body in a much different direction then before.

Root Beer or Creme Soda and a cigarette...thats how I roll when I am not in a bar. Healthy? Don't really care. Trying to look cool? Damn straight I look cool holding a Root Beer!

My chemistry teachers have all gone over these ingredients before...none of them have ever said that there is much to worry about unless you chug soda like crazy.

I am not the fat woman in the picture, nor will I ever be unless I take some drug therapy that prevents my body from raping everything I eat within seconds. Also if I get diarrhea from large amounts of fructose and have to take more breaks to piss...so be it I can pull over and drop a pie on the side of the freeway if I have to...which has never happened since I have control of my body for the most part.

My health tip of the day: Don't take laxatives and a sleeping pill when camping no matter what the reasons are! Actually, never use that combo anytime, anywhere especially if you are drinking alcohol.

Edited January 18, 2010 by candyman

[torn asunder]

first off, is this a copy of an article from somewhere?

Soda is just a bunch of empty calories which will either replace healthy foods or add additional calories to your diet. 140 calories You will Get for just drinking Pop, and these aren't the Good Calories your body needs Either (Look up the Good and The Bad Calories if you wish to prove me wrong Here is one Link http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/NewYearNewYou/story?id=3654291&page=1). High fructose corn syrup (sugar) is probably the biggest concern. Ingredients

#1 whey usually contain either high fructose corn syrup or sucrose as the sugar source. Sucrose is split into glucose and fructose in the digestive tract. Many people get diarrhea from large amounts of fructose. As Ed notes, it tends to pull water into the intestines. That reverses the hydration process and causes diarrhea.

The most widely used varieties of high-fructose corn syrup are: HFCS 55 (mostly used in soft drinks), approximately 55% fructose and 45% glucose; Honey is a mixture of different types of sugars, water, and small amounts of other compounds. Honey typically has a fructose/glucose ratio similar to HFCS 55; sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose linked together with a relatively weak glycosidic bond; Cane sugar and beet sugar are both relatively pure sucrose. Sucrose is broken down during digestion into fructose and glucose. (wikipedia)

i get really tired of the whole HFCS argument - honestly, there's very little difference between HFCS and table sugar.

#2 If you take a lot of caffeinated soda, you may over dose on caffeine, particularly if you don't use it much away from the run. Caffeine and other xanthines ( tea, chocolate are sources ) cause relaxation of smooth muscle. Net result: urgency along the way. Combine that with the tendency for diarrhea caused by too much fructose, and you're primed for extra potty breaks.

Mountain Dew 355 mL (12 U.S. fl oz) 54.5mg caffeine

Drip coffee 207 mL (7 U.S. fl oz) 115–175mg caffeine

Caffeine tolerance develops very quickly, especially among heavy coffee and energy drink consumers. Complete tolerance to sleep disruption effects of caffeine develops after consuming 400 mg of caffeine 3 times a day for 7 days. The LD50 (median lethal dose) of caffeine in humans is dependent on weight and individual sensitivity and estimated to be about 150 to 200 milligrams per kilogram of body mass, roughly 80 to 100 cups of coffee for an average adult taken within a limited time frame that is dependent on half-life. (wikipedia)

overdose on caffeine!? did anyone really research this article?

#3 The electrolyte balance of most sodas is terrible for running. Many have no sodium to speak of. Unless you take in other sources of sodium, you may mess up your electrolyte balance and get cramps. If the fructose and caffeine aggravate water loss, that can only make dehydration and cramping more likely.

#4 One 12-ounce can of regular soda pop contains over an ounce of sugar (or about 7 teaspoons). "The sugar is cheap, rotten refined sugar that can only do you damage – diabetes, obesity, tooth decay, and all the rest," observes David Reuben, M.D

#5 The average cola contains 110 Calories.

ASCERTAIN

1. By choosing a diet soda to avoid sugar, you're consuming aspartame. Better known as NutraSweet, it is the sugar substitute used these days in diet soft drinks. Saccharin, previously used, was found to be carcinogenic, as were cyclamates before that. Many health professionals now have serious doubts as to the safety of aspartame, as well.

etc...

Like many other peptides, aspartame may hydrolyze (break down) into its constituent amino acids under conditions of elevated temperature or high pH. (Aspartame is the methyl ester of the dipeptide of the natural amino acids L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine. Under strongly acidic or alkaline conditions, aspartame may generate methanol by hydrolysis. Under more severe conditions, the peptide bonds are also hydrolyzed, resulting in the free amino acids.[7])

The stability when dissolved in water depends markedly on pH. At room temperature, it is most stable at pH 4.3, where its half-life is nearly 300 days. At pH 7, however, its half-life is only a few days. Most soft-drinks have a pH between 3 and 5, where aspartame is reasonably stable. In products that may require a longer shelf life, such as syrups for fountain beverages, aspartame is sometimes blended with a more stable sweetener, such as saccharin.[10]

The metabolism of aspartame does not damage the body because: (a) the quantity of methanol produced is too small to disrupt normal physiological processes;[61] (b) methanol and formaldehyde are natural by-products of human metabolism and are safely processed by various enzymes;[61] © there is more methanol in some natural fruit juices and alcoholic beverages than is derived from aspartame ingestion;[61][64] and (d) even large doses of pure methanol have been shown in non-human primate studies to lead to ample accumulation of formic acid (as formate), while no formaldehyde was detected.[65] (wikipedia)

btw, this article can't even name the additive correctly? "ascertain" is most certainly not "aspartame", unless i'm misunderstanding the section title purpose...

CARAMEL COLOR

1. To change the Color of the Food Product into the color the Consumer expects to see..

2. The International Program on Chemical Safety (IPCS) has concluded that commercially-produced caramel color has the same toxicological properties as caramel produced by cooking or heating sucrose, except for those prepared using ammonium (Class A).||||Despite some claims that caramel is Toxic or Carcinogenic, or leads to intestinal problems, the IPCS has found no evidence of carcinogenicity or mutagenicity in its extensive studies.||||

A. Ammonia caramel, baker's caramel, confectioner's caramel, beer caramelIn the presence of ammonium compounds but no sulfate compounds can be used.

Sulfate ammonia caramel, acid-proof caramel, soft-drink carameIn the presence of both sulfite and ammonium compounds Acidic environments such as soft drinks

3. It is made by a carefully controlled heat treatment of carbohydrates, generally in the presence of acids, alkalies, or salts, in a process called caramelization. It is more fully oxidized than caramel candy and has an odor of burnt sugar and a somewhat bitter taste.

4. It is also addictive, and It's also about 1 million calories per cup. Be forewarned

Caramel color is one of the oldest and most widely-used food colorings, and is found in almost every kind of industrially produced food, including: batters, beer, brown bread, buns, chocolate, cookies, cough drops, dark liquor such as brandy rum, beer and whisky, chocolate-flavored flour-based confectionery, coatings, custards, decorations, fillings and toppings, potato chips, dessert mixes, doughnuts, fish and shellfish spreads, frozen desserts, Fruit preserves, glucose tablets, gravy browning, ice cream, pickles, sauces and dressings, soft drinks (especially colas), sweets, vinegar, and wines.

Soft drinks: These account for the largest portion of caramel color usage in the world. Single-strength caramel colors are used in colas, generally in concentrations of less than four grams per liter. Double-strength caramel color, which adds less than one calorie per liter of beverage (making it the industry preference for diet drinks), is used in concentrations of less than two grams per liter.

CAFFEINE

Yes the Classic Worlds all time Favorite Ingredient, Caffeine...

1. There is three to four 12-ounce cans of caffeinated soda

2. Caffeine: increases alertness, and Adensine Tri Phosphate (ATP) production (more muscle fuel) when energy is low.

3. Can lead to Lower Bone Density.

4. The jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, vitamin and mineral depletion, breast lumps, birth defects, perhaps some forms of cancer – these and more are part of the package deal of health problems and risks that come with choosing to consume caffeinated drinks.

5. Taking size into account, the impact of three cans of regular Coke a day on a seven-year-old kid is the same as an adult drinking eight cups of coffee!10Needless to say, physicians – particularly pediatricians – are alarmed. Could it be that the consumption of caffeinated soda pop is contributing to developmental disorders, both physical and mental, in our children? There are many health professionals who would say so. One author puts it this way: "No parent would knowingly give poison to their children; and yet, every time you hand your child a soda pop or flavored drink, you are giving him chemicals that are stored in his body. Is it any wonder that twelve-year-olds die of cancer, teenagers are afflicted with MS, and young men and women commit bizarre acts?"

what kind of scare-tactic propaganda is this?? cancer, MS, and bizarre behavior is due to *caffeine*? i've already addressed the caffeine issue above...

PHOSPHORIC ACID

1. Phosphoric acid: this is a strong acid which is not good for the digestion during Process

2. an acid used in fertilizers and soaps/detergents and pharmaceuticals and as an additive in cola drinks

3. Is to enhance palatability and to Keep cat foods long.

4. It is sometimes sold under other names, such as "rust remover" or "rust killer."

5. leads to lower bone density.

6. Can cause Kidney Failure.

7. evidence suggests their high levels of phosphoric acid will damage the kidneys.

8. Phosphoric acid is also known to neutralize the hydrochloric acid in our stomachs. This is unfortunate, for we need hydrochloric acid to help us digest our food and utilize its nutrients. It is especially required for calcium utilization. So, not only does phosphoric acid leach calcium from our bones, it also prohibits hydrochloric acid from helping to restore it. Bones and teeth just can't win with this stuff in our diet.

However, a well-controlled clinical study by Heaney and Rafferty using calcium-balance methods found no impact of carbonated soft drinks containing phosphoric acid on calcium excretion.[4] The study compared the impact of water, milk, and various soft drinks (two with caffeine and two without; two with phosphoric acid and two with citric acid) on the calcium balance of 20- to 40-year-old women who customarily consumed ~3 or more cups (680 ml) of a carbonated soft drink per day. They found that, relative to water, only milk and the two caffeine-containing soft drinks increased urinary calcium, and that the calcium loss associated with the caffeinated soft drink consumption was about equal to that previously found for caffeine alone. Phosphoric acid without caffeine had no impact on urine calcium, nor did it augment the urinary calcium loss related to caffeine. (wikipedia)

...Coca-Cola contains less citric acid than does orange juice, and the concentration of phosphoric acid in Coke is far too small (a mere 11 to 13 grams per gallon of syrup, or about 0.20 to 0.30 per cent of the total formula) (snopes)

0.3% of 20oz soda = 0.06oz of phosphoric acid, which is hardly enough to do anything - the gastric acid in your stomach is far stronger than a soda...

HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP

1. High fructose corn syrup and/or sucrose: generally not good for digestion, so the amount of soda should be limited, and other, better sources of carbos should be the main calorie source.

c'mon... not good for digestion? fructose and glucose are naturally occurring sugars, and sucrose is a combination of both fructose and glucose. it's not a good idea to have a high intake of either, but that's not because they're inherently bad...

2. Regularly including these products in your diet has the potential to promote obesity — which, in turn, promotes conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.

sorry, but this is a "no-shit-sherlock" moment for me. you mean that consuming sugar will increase my weight?

3. But recent research — some of which is supported by the beverage industry — suggests that high-fructose corn syrup isn't intrinsically less healthy than other sweeteners, nor is it the root cause of obesity.

Yes, phosphoric acid in colas--and many other sodas, is a binder to restrict the access of calcium to the body...

see above...

A lot of Americans do drink a lot of pop, but be aware now some need to turn over to calcium supplements to nourish the lost calcium they have lost in the past.....

If you don't believe me and want to prove me wrong, Make a List of why you should Drink pop, how it helps you out, and make sure it defeats all the purposes on this friendly letter. Ohh also, You be the judge, not me, Its not my body that allows the access of such so called, 'Food', into itself...Remember, what goes into your body, is ripped apart and put into your heart, Also your young, why should you care, you don't feel it....yet....

of course, pop is a nutritionally empty food. that doesn't necessarily mean it's is evil incarnate. sorry if i'm coming across poorly on this, but i get really irritated with the scare tactics posts/articles like this use. don't take everything you read at face-value - do some research & find out what's really going on, everyone!!

Edited January 18, 2010 by torn asunder

[KatRN05]

Honestly, we are going to die someday. I will probably die from all the insane amounts of peanut butter that I eat, I honestly go through a jar every week and a half or so. If you enjoy your cloves or cigars or cigarettes or pop, go ahead and enjoy. I'm not going to preach to you about how bad it is for you because as someone who was formerly 300lbs I had that shit ("that's bad for you") said to me everytime I put something in my mouth and I found it fucking annoying.

Edited January 18, 2010 by KatRN05

[Msterbeau]

I never, ever liked the stuff. But that's taste/carbonation. I find other unhealthy stuff to put in my body.

[candyman]

I opened a Root Beer, lit a cigarette, and put this song on...it really hits home...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLK6zh4uAUs

[freydis]

Honestly, we are going to die someday. I will probably die from all the insane amounts of peanut butter that I eat, I honestly go through a jar every week and a half or so. If you enjoy your cloves or cigars or cigarettes or pop, go ahead and enjoy. I'm not going to preach to you about how bad it is for you because as someone who was formerly 300lbs I had that shit ("that's bad for you") said to me everytime I put something in my mouth and I found it fucking annoying.

Amen.

Someone preaching what people should or should not be consuming, and following it up with pictures of morbidly obese people is insulting to the intelligence of your intended audience.

Lay off the cheap emotional tactics, and if you're going to attempt another piece of rhetoric like that, either choose a better written article to post, or write it yourself. Otherwise, instead of conveying your opinion in an effective manner, all you'll accomplish is pissing people off.

And I'll echo what others have already said-- demonizing soda is kind of ignorant. Exercise, or lack of it, is more a culprit of obesity than sugary beverages. Now if the argument was that soda causes tooth issues, I might have been more inclined to agree, or at least read more with an open mind.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Well. Someones on a mission.

[KatRN05]

Amen.

Someone preaching what people should or should not be consuming, and following it up with pictures of morbidly obese people is insulting to the intelligence of your intended audience.

Lay off the cheap emotional tactics, and if you're going to attempt another piece of rhetoric like that, either choose a better written article to post, or write it yourself. Otherwise, instead of conveying your opinion in an effective manner, all you'll accomplish is pissing people off.

And I'll echo what others have already said-- demonizing soda is kind of ignorant. Exercise, or lack of it, is more a culprit of obesity than sugary beverages. Now if the argument was that soda causes tooth issues, I might have been more inclined to agree, or at least read more with an open mind.

Totally agree with you. Ultimately it's up to the individual whether or not they want to make changes to their behavior.

Edited January 18, 2010 by KatRN05

[Rayne]

I grew up using a can of Coke to clean the rust off car battery terminals. I don't see how anyone can drink it ...

I'm all for diet or an ocassional Mt. Dew, but mostly water for me.

[Mean Salley]

Did I miss something else about the original poster, or did she just get her head bitten off for posting some facts that no-one is being forced to pay attention to?

There are a lot of very important people here. I'm also very important when I yell "I'M IMPORTANT!!!" really loud on my cell phone.

lol

eevee-ninedeenine talked me down from saying some very bad and boot-worthy things.

I would have been very booted, but I also would have been rich with victory.

[candyman]

Did I miss something else about the original poster, or did she just get her head bitten off for posting some facts that no-one is being forced to pay attention to?

Then what was the purpose of posting it? Yes, it is bad for you which is an easy thing to figure out today. Seriously, name something and when I say "it is bad for you" I will probably be "right". The original post was an article...a poorly written article and the whole post came across as a fire and brimstone sermon. Also the obese woman at the end had no place...of the many things that soda will do to you an increase in weight to around that of a small car is low on the list. You can probably find people that lost weight and still drink soda but you will be hard pressed to find someone with a ton or crowns and fillings that still drinks it.

No there is no forcing involved here...it is the internet though and when you make a post you always gotta have a flame suit ready...unless it is about kittens that are very cute or boobs that are way too big.

[torn asunder]

Did I miss something else about the original poster, or did she just get her head bitten off for posting some facts that no-one is being forced to pay attention to?

well, as far as my post is concerned, my irritation was in no way intended to be pointed at the original poster, but at the author of the article - my apologies if it came across poorly.

thing is, though, calling those things listed in the article as "facts" is giving them a lot of credit... there is so much misinformation out there, this article included, and not only am i tired of reading this online, i didn't want something based in misinformation and blatant fear-mongering to gain any kind of credibility here, so i took the time to find refuting information to post. once i started, i felt it would be irresponsible to not address everything in the post.

sorry again, if it came across harshly towards the original poster - was not my intent.

[torn asunder]

here's a quick example -

CARAMEL COLOR

...

4. It is also addictive, and It's also about 1 million calories per cup. Be forewarned

the caramel color used in soft drinks is either E150c or E150d, from what i could find. the caloric value of it ranges from 0.6 cal/g to 1.6 cal/g. using this approximation, you'll notice that there are roughly 2g/tsp. there are approx. 48 tsp/cup. 48tsp * 2g = 96g/cup. 96g * 1.5cal. = 144cal/cup...

...144 calories per cup!! not 1,000,000 calories - 144!

this is the kind of sh*t that drives me up a wall!!

i mean, if someone's going to write an article, they should at least do the research, you know?

[Fyrliin Feuer]

first off, is this a copy of an article from somewhere?

The most widely used varieties of high-fructose corn syrup are: HFCS 55 (mostly used in soft drinks), approximately 55% fructose and 45% glucose; Honey is a mixture of different types of sugars, water, and small amounts of other compounds. Honey typically has a fructose/glucose ratio similar to HFCS 55; sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose linked together with a relatively weak glycosidic bond; Cane sugar and beet sugar are both relatively pure sucrose. Sucrose is broken down during digestion into fructose and glucose. (wikipedia)

i get really tired of the whole HFCS argument - honestly, there's very little difference between HFCS and table sugar.

Mountain Dew 355 mL (12 U.S. fl oz) 54.5mg caffeine

Drip coffee 207 mL (7 U.S. fl oz) 115–175mg caffeine

Caffeine tolerance develops very quickly, especially among heavy coffee and energy drink consumers. Complete tolerance to sleep disruption effects of caffeine develops after consuming 400 mg of caffeine 3 times a day for 7 days. The LD50 (median lethal dose) of caffeine in humans is dependent on weight and individual sensitivity and estimated to be about 150 to 200 milligrams per kilogram of body mass, roughly 80 to 100 cups of coffee for an average adult taken within a limited time frame that is dependent on half-life. (wikipedia)

overdose on caffeine!? did anyone really research this article?

Like many other peptides, aspartame may hydrolyze (break down) into its constituent amino acids under conditions of elevated temperature or high pH. (Aspartame is the methyl ester of the dipeptide of the natural amino acids L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine. Under strongly acidic or alkaline conditions, aspartame may generate methanol by hydrolysis. Under more severe conditions, the peptide bonds are also hydrolyzed, resulting in the free amino acids.[7])

The stability when dissolved in water depends markedly on pH. At room temperature, it is most stable at pH 4.3, where its half-life is nearly 300 days. At pH 7, however, its half-life is only a few days. Most soft-drinks have a pH between 3 and 5, where aspartame is reasonably stable. In products that may require a longer shelf life, such as syrups for fountain beverages, aspartame is sometimes blended with a more stable sweetener, such as saccharin.[10]

The metabolism of aspartame does not damage the body because: (a) the quantity of methanol produced is too small to disrupt normal physiological processes;[61] (b) methanol and formaldehyde are natural by-products of human metabolism and are safely processed by various enzymes;[61] © there is more methanol in some natural fruit juices and alcoholic beverages than is derived from aspartame ingestion;[61][64] and (d) even large doses of pure methanol have been shown in non-human primate studies to lead to ample accumulation of formic acid (as formate), while no formaldehyde was detected.[65] (wikipedia)

btw, this article can't even name the additive correctly? "ascertain" is most certainly not "aspartame", unless i'm misunderstanding the section title purpose...

Caramel color is one of the oldest and most widely-used food colorings, and is found in almost every kind of industrially produced food, including: batters, beer, brown bread, buns, chocolate, cookies, cough drops, dark liquor such as brandy rum, beer and whisky, chocolate-flavored flour-based confectionery, coatings, custards, decorations, fillings and toppings, potato chips, dessert mixes, doughnuts, fish and shellfish spreads, frozen desserts, Fruit preserves, glucose tablets, gravy browning, ice cream, pickles, sauces and dressings, soft drinks (especially colas), sweets, vinegar, and wines.

Soft drinks: These account for the largest portion of caramel color usage in the world. Single-strength caramel colors are used in colas, generally in concentrations of less than four grams per liter. Double-strength caramel color, which adds less than one calorie per liter of beverage (making it the industry preference for diet drinks), is used in concentrations of less than two grams per liter.

what kind of scare-tactic propaganda is this?? cancer, MS, and bizarre behavior is due to *caffeine*? i've already addressed the caffeine issue above...

However, a well-controlled clinical study by Heaney and Rafferty using calcium-balance methods found no impact of carbonated soft drinks containing phosphoric acid on calcium excretion.[4] The study compared the impact of water, milk, and various soft drinks (two with caffeine and two without; two with phosphoric acid and two with citric acid) on the calcium balance of 20- to 40-year-old women who customarily consumed ~3 or more cups (680 ml) of a carbonated soft drink per day. They found that, relative to water, only milk and the two caffeine-containing soft drinks increased urinary calcium, and that the calcium loss associated with the caffeinated soft drink consumption was about equal to that previously found for caffeine alone. Phosphoric acid without caffeine had no impact on urine calcium, nor did it augment the urinary calcium loss related to caffeine. (wikipedia)

...Coca-Cola contains less citric acid than does orange juice, and the concentration of phosphoric acid in Coke is far too small (a mere 11 to 13 grams per gallon of syrup, or about 0.20 to 0.30 per cent of the total formula) (snopes)

0.3% of 20oz soda = 0.06oz of phosphoric acid, which is hardly enough to do anything - the gastric acid in your stomach is far stronger than a soda...

c'mon... not good for digestion? fructose and glucose are naturally occurring sugars, and sucrose is a combination of both fructose and glucose. it's not a good idea to have a high intake of either, but that's not because they're inherently bad...

sorry, but this is a "no-shit-sherlock" moment for me. you mean that consuming sugar will increase my weight?

see above...

of course, pop is a nutritionally empty food. that doesn't necessarily mean it's is evil incarnate. sorry if i'm coming across poorly on this, but i get really irritated with the scare tactics posts/articles like this use. don't take everything you read at face-value - do some research & find out what's really going on, everyone!!

These all were at some point, I just re wrote, stuck in some things from my own experience, and posted it. This was also a report I had to do for school. Got me an A so I am quite happy.

[freydis]

Did I miss something else about the original poster, or did she just get her head bitten off for posting some facts that no-one is being forced to pay attention to?

There are a lot of very important people here. I'm also very important when I yell "I'M IMPORTANT!!!" really loud on my cell phone.

lol

eevee-ninedeenine talked me down from saying some very bad and boot-worthy things.

I would have been very booted, but I also would have been rich with victory.

If you post something preachy, crammed with unverified facts and full of cheap rhetorical fallacies in order to bring across a point thats debatable in the first place, expect to get a few very pointed remarks of irritation, yes.

It has nothing to do with self importance.

Torn just pointed that out. He took exception to the "facts" presented in the article.

I took exception to that, and the tone with which it was written and posted.

Adding the enormous woman at the end was extremely tacky. Writing styles like that offend me in the extreme. When they appear, I will say so, without exception.

You dont like disagreement?

This is the internet. There is no crying on the internet.

[freydis]

These all were at some point, I just re wrote, stuck in some things from my own experience, and posted it. This was also a report I had to do for school. Got me an A so I am quite happy.

Next time, you might want to mention it's something you wrote for a report when you post it.

That way, the comments you receive on it might be a bit more helpful.

[n0Mad]

Next time, you might want to mention it's something you wrote for a report when you post it.

That way, the comments you receive on it might be a bit more helpful.

And cite your sources, in APA format, 12 pt. font, double spaced, with a title page, a running header and page numbers on every page except the first, and a reference page.