The Deadly Poison in Soda Pop
06/08/07
By Dr. Dana Myatt
Soda pop is slop. File this under "more good reasons to avoid soda pop."
Tooth decay, overweight, diabetes and osteoporosis are the lesser problems
associated with soda pop consumption. But there is an even more sinister side to
America's favorite beverage. Benzene, a highly toxic compound that can cause
liver cirrhosis, Parkinson's disease and accelerated aging --- is found in many
sodas. In my opinion, soda pop is one of the most harmful beverages a person can
drink. Let's review the evidence.
Each 12-ounce can of soda pop contains between 10 and 12 teaspoons of sugar. The
increase in soda pop consumption parallels our current epidemic of obesity,
overweight and diabetes.
Soda pop rots teeth, but it is not the sugar
alone that causes this. The acidity of soda pop combined with high sugar levels
form a tooth-destroying combination.
Phosphates in soda pop, combined with the fact that soda often replaces
calcium-containing drinks like milk, are associated with an increased risk of
bone loss.
And these are the "lesser problems" that soda causes.
Most soda contains the chemical preservative sodium benzoate. Ascorbic acid
(vitamin C) is another common additive. When sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid
interact, the highly toxic chemical benzene is formed. Benzene is an aggressive
carcinogen, even in minute amounts. And drink which contains both sodium
benzoate and ascorbic acid can contain benzene.
But now there is more evidence which suggests that sodium benzoate by itself can
cause DNA damage. Research from Sheffield University in Britain shows that
sodium benzoate, a common preservative in soda pop, pickles, sauces, and many
other "food stuffs," has the ability to shut off vital parts of DNA known as the
"mitochondria."
Mitochondria are the "power stations" inside the cell. According to lead
researcher Piper, "These chemicals have the ability to cause severe damage to
DNA in the mitochondria to the point that they totally inactivate it: They knock
it out altogether."
When the mitochondria are damaged, the cell begins to malfunction in a serious
way. Conditions such as Parkinson's, cirrhosis of the liver, and accelerated
aging, can be linked to this type of cellular damage.
Here's the bottom line. We have no idea how many of these "harmless" artificial
ingredients and chemical preservatives in our food can cause disease. Short-term
effects are studied in the lab but long-term effects are unknown until the
public acts as "guinea pigs" by consuming these chemicals for many years.
To protect yourself, avoid soda pop, period. Eat more "real" (unprocessed) food.
Look for "sodium benzoate" on food labels and when you see it (as they say on
the TV "Cop Shows"), set the product down and back away slowly, and no one
gets hurt.
| Product |
Acid Low=BAD |
Sugar
per 12 oz |
| Pure Water |
7.00 (neutral) |
0.0 |
| Barq's |
4.61 |
10.7 tsp. |
| Diet Coke |
3.39 |
0.0 |
| Mountain Dew |
3.22 |
11.0 tsp. |
| Gatorade |
2.95 |
3.3 tsp |
| Coke Classic |
2.63 |
9.3 tsp. |
| Pepsi |
2.49 |
9.8 tsp. |
| Sprite |
3.42 |
9.0 |
| Diet 7-Up |
3.67 |
0.0 |
| Diet Dr. Pepper |
3.41 |
0.0 |
| Surge |
3.02 |
10.0 |
| Gatorade |
2.95 |
3.3 |
| Hawaiian Fruit Punch |
2.82 |
10.2 |
| Orange Minute Maid |
2.80 |
11.2 |
| Dr. Pepper |
2.92 |
9.5 |
| BATTERY ACID |
1.00 |
0.0 |
Source: Minnesota
Dental Association * |
The threshold pH for enamel
dissolution is 5.5. |
|
Nurse Mark Adds: You may be interested to
know that our mighty, ever-vigilant, and ever-protective FDA (which we think
really stands for "Fleece and Dope Americans") sets no limits to benzine in any
beverages sold in America except bottled water - this according to the FDA's own
website! Unbelievable, but true - the FDA is happy to let the soda pop industry
"develop guidance" that it claims will "minimize" (not eliminate, just "minimize")
benzine in it's products. References:
1.) Relation between consumption of sugar-sweetened
drinks and childhood obesity: a prospective, observational analysis. Lancet
2001;357:505–8.
2.) Soft drink consumption among US children and adolescents: nutritional
consequences. J Am Diet Assoc 1999;99:436–41.
3.) Carbonated beverages, dietary calcium, the dietary calcium/phosphorus ratio,
and bone fractures in girls and boys. J Adolescent Health 1994;15:210–5.
4.) Consumption of soft drinks with phosphoric acid as a risk factor for the
development of hypocalcemia in children: a case-control study. J Pediatr
1995;126:940–2.
5.) Phosphates and caries. Lancet 1968;i:1431.[letter]
6.) Beverage ingredients can form carcinogen. Consum Rep. 2006 Oct;71(10):7.
7.) Benzene in beverages. FDA Consum. 2006 Sep-Oct;40(5):9-10.
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/506_benzene.htm
8.) Caution: Some soft drinks may seriously harm your health: Expert links
additive to cell damage. The Independent, Sunday, 27 May 2007 |
