Sodas...good or bad?

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Ice Cream Man)

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:11:54 GMT

I can't believe the people behind this (the health nuts) haven't tried to shut down the food network or sites like this. They want us all to die healthy and skinny.
Headline of the future.
After a lengthy investigation man charged with having several fat food sites on his computer sentenced to a diet farm for 2 years.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Ice Cream Man)

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:05:52 GMT

The fat we eat, instead of banning large drinks you'll pay the tax man an extra 50 cents.
It's going to happen just like cigarettes are at least half tax fat food will be half tax. They'll tell you it's for your own good and the sheep will follow. LOL

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle)

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:21:44 GMT

You mean a tax on the fat we eat, or a tax levied against fat people? Seems much more likely, either way, in Canada than in the US.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Ice Cream Man)

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:51:47 GMT

Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle

One big difference, though, is that cigarette smoking affects many other people in the vicinity. Soda drinking affects no one else. I'm sure there will be people who try to do the things you mention, but I don't think they'll be successful, for the most part, except in isolated instances. As for hearing from others about how you shouldn't be drinking it, well, that's just part of life.

While this is true in the beginning 80% of people smoked so there wasn't much emphasis placed on second hand smoke. It was mostly about health care costs and allergic reactions of nonsmokers. When the second hand smoke started they said it was worse than smoking and people believed it.
I always said if they are successful with smoking it would be fat people next.
Now up here they are debating a fat tax, just how it started with smoking, it will come to pass, this year, next year who knows but it will.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Hepcat)

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:40:54 GMT

Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle
I'm just saying that, in your ranking of "bad for you" things, moderate alcohol use may be good, artificial sweeteners may be bad, and soda is probably more immediately health threatening than that.

That's precisely my point of contention though. Just because soda pop is empty calories, just because it's not good for you, doesn't mean it translates into being "bad for you"! Sugar is not a toxin (unlike alcohol and many/most artificial chemicals) and shouldn't be demonized. Like I say, your body metabolizes everything you eat down to sugar in the first place.

cathftr
I don't want to see soda banned either but I DO see soda going down the same path just like with smokes. Not a total ban but something that is becoming less socially acceptable.... there will be a day when having a Pepsi would be like having a cigarette. Gotta do it in private unless one wants to hear other family remembers or even complete strangers reminding you that soda is bad for your health.

Not to imply that you're one of them, but is it any wonder I fulminate against health food nazis? They can tell me what to eat when they look better than I do at my age, and I will make that point very forcefully.

billyboy
I have yet to hear of anyone's health directly affected by "second-hand" diabetes!

I'd also like to add that while there has been a definite link established between certain kinds of diabetes and obesity, no link has ever been established between sugar consumption per se and diabetes.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (billyboy)

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 19:15:00 GMT

I hear ya, Bruce. I have yet to hear of anyone's health directly affected by "second-hand" diabetes!

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle)

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:38:58 GMT

One big difference, though, is that cigarette smoking affects many other people in the vicinity. Soda drinking affects no one else. I'm sure there will be people who try to do the things you mention, but I don't think they'll be successful, for the most part, except in isolated instances. As for hearing from others about how you shouldn't be drinking it, well, that's just part of life.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (cathyftr)

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 17:35:12 GMT

Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle

I agree with most of that, Hepcat. I'm pretty confidant that artificial sweeteners are not good for you, and alcohol abuse is probably worse than soda abuse. But moderate alcohol use may have health benefits, whereas soda's only benefit is it tastes good. Which is fine. I don't want to see soda banned or anything. There are plenty of foods that taste good but add little nutritionally.

I'm just saying that, in your ranking of "bad for you" things, moderate alcohol use may be good, artificial sweeteners may be bad, and soda is probably more immediately health threatening than that.

I don't want to see soda banned either but I DO see soda going down the same path just like with smokes. Not a total ban but something that is becoming less socially acceptable. Kinda already started with NYC banned on large sugar drinks ( from what I understand only regular soda is enforced ). In the coming years I wouldn't be surprised to see ads for soda banned from radio and TV, buildings named after soda ( example: Denver's Pepsi Center Arena ) may have to change their name, restrictions placed so children won't be able to buy soda, restaurants, movie theaters, amusement parks and the like cutting back on the selling of soda, the soda section at the supermarket getting smaller and smaller..etc.....oddly enough my uncle who was employed at Pepsi for decades until his retirement a few years ago..he sees all of this too. While it may not happen within the next few years but he really believes that there will be a day when having a Pepsi would be like having a cigarette. Gotta do it in private unless one wants to hear other family remembers or even complete strangers reminding you that soda is bad for your health.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Hepcat)

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 17:16:42 GMT

CCinNJ

That's a brave cat right there...by all those bottles.

Yes, I'm very brave. Here are a few more pictures of me then:

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle)

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 20:53:16 GMT

I agree with most of that, Hepcat. I'm pretty confidant that artificial sweeteners are not good for you, and alcohol abuse is probably worse than soda abuse. But moderate alcohol use may have health benefits, whereas soda's only benefit is it tastes good. Which is fine. I don't want to see soda banned or anything. There are plenty of foods that taste good but add little nutritionally.

I'm just saying that, in your ranking of "bad for you" things, moderate alcohol use may be good, artificial sweeteners may be bad, and soda is probably more immediately health threatening than that.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Hepcat)

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:45:01 GMT

cathyftr
What about energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar..even Fourloko ?? As I mentioned earlier
I myself know folks who had given up soda all together only to take up Red Bull thinking the latter is more healthy. I don't see how.

You're right. Energy drinks are absolutely loaded with mega doses of sucrose/fructose and caffeine. They're soft drinks on steroids.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Tony Bad)

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:45:07 GMT

Hepcat

Tony Bad
I hate to sound like a broken record, but the problem isn't soda, it is the excess consumption of soda, which is very commonplace and a real health concern.

Okay. I have no problem with that. But other people have been arguing that soda is bad per se simply because it doesn't do you any good. That's the kind of killjoy argument with which I have issues, several issues in fact.

I think we could eliminate 90% of what we do as not good for you. I am not ready for that.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (cathyftr)

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:41:56 GMT

What about energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar..even Fourloko ?? As I mentioned earlier
I myself know folks who had given up soda all together only to take up Red Bull thinking the latter is more healthy. I don't see how.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Hepcat)

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 15:27:59 GMT

Tony Bad
I hate to sound like a broken record, but the problem isn't soda, it is the excess consumption of soda, which is very commonplace and a real health concern.

Okay. I have no problem with that. But other people have been arguing that soda is bad per se simply because it doesn't do you any good. That's the kind of killjoy argument with which I have issues, several issues in fact.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Tony Bad)

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:01:34 GMT

You are comparing moderate soda intake to the behavior of an alcoholic to explain your position on this. Sure there are people drinking too much alcohol, but that is irrelevant to point here. One soda a day is probably not a problem, even though there is as much sugar in that one can as you should have for the entire day, but many have soda at every meal, and many of these people are kids. A big gulp is 3 or 4 cans. A large soda at a fast food place is 2 or 3. We have seen many threads here about refills, where people have 3 or 4 servings of soda at one sitting. That might add 700 to 1000 calories to your meal. The effects of excess sugar are undeniable. The impact of taking in too many calories is clear. I hate to sound like a broken record, but the problem isn't soda, it is the excess consumption of soda, which is very commonplace and a real health concern.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Hepcat)

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 12:52:12 GMT

Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle

Hepcat
Cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, chemical sweeteners and government. And they're all far more harmful than pop.

Cigarettes and drugs, OK. The other three, I don't think so.

Okay. Let's do some comparisons.

First of all, let's crunch some numbers on the empty calories aspect. A twelve ounce Coke has 140 calories, a twelve ounce American lager such as Budweiser has 168 calories, a twelve ounce ale (for those who actually like beer) has 216 calories, a five ounce glass of wine has 100 calories and one ounce shots of whiskey or vodka have 69 calories. One and a half ounce liqueur based shooters have almost 155 calories! But let's look at quantities typically consumed too. Not to many Coke drinkers will sit down and have even three per evening. I certainly don't just because a fellow doesn't want another drink for awhile after a Coke. But it's not uncommon for men to down six to twelve beers in an evening. So how then do the calories compare? Why do you think they call it a beer belly as opposed to a Coke belly?

Secondly, alcohol is a mild toxin. Drink too much and it will kill you that day. Sugar, on the other hand, is not a toxin. In fact, your body metabolizes everything you eat down to sugar! The sugar in soft drinks is just empty calories, that's all.

With respect to the chemical compounds that serve as artificial sweeteners though, are you fully confident they're not carcinogens or slow toxins of some sort? I'm not. The jury is still out on that question as far as I'm concerned.

Sugar has been demonized since the late sixties by the helicopter parents who have found it convenient to use the TV as a babysitter as opposed to shooing their kids outside to play. Is it any wonder then that kids started to be diagnosed as hyperactive of all things in the very late sixties? Whoever heard of a hyperactive kid prior to those years? There weren't any because they were out running around all day. So these days the kids are sitting around in front of the TV and getting fat, and the parents resort to drugging them with Ritalin and lord knows what at the first sign of a pulse. This is called "progress". It is to scream.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (CCinNJ)

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:45:24 GMT

That's a brave cat right there...by all those bottles.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Ice Cream Man)

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:41:45 GMT

My biggest fear is dying healthy. # 2 is that I'll live long enough to see a fat tax.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle)

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:51:55 GMT

Hepcat
Cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, chemical sweeteners and government. And they're all far more harmful than pop.

Cigarettes and drugs, OK. The other three, I don't think so.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Hepcat)

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:13:50 GMT

Alright then. Let me modify it.

The two most important facets of healthy eating are:

1. Moderation.

2. Activity! So leave the car in the driveway unless you're going street racing and just do it!

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Pigiron)

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:54:26 GMT

Hepcat

So I say to all the health food Nazis "Get off your butt and walk before I plant my foot there to give you some encouragement!"

That's a really unfortunate choice of words directed at people who are interested in healthy eating.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Hepcat)

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:38:52 GMT

mjambro

MellowRoast

You have a point, Glenn. People will slam sodas and then consume other other foods/beverages that are as bad or worse. And all with a straight face!

There's something worse than soda? What else has zero nutritive value which is also unhealthy?

Cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, chemical sweeteners and government. And they're all far more harmful than pop.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Hepcat)

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:33:00 GMT

mjambro

Considering they have no redeeming feature, except for taste (basically liquid candy) and to cut the grease of fast food (primary purpose for colas)....

How much more of a redeeming feature do you need? It's always been about taste for me and I've been quaffing pop ever since the ten ounce returnable bottles were sold from ice water coolers and cost ten cents including the two cent deposit. I've been averaging two cans per day since my teens. And no I'm not at all overweight. I do things like walk to places such as supermarkets and carry the groceries back home and climb stairs instead of taking the escalator (when I'm not actively working out in a gym).

I also have a very nice collection of refillable soda pop bottles which I keep in a kitchen pantry:

So I say to all the health food Nazis "Get off your butt and walk before I plant my foot there to give you some encouragement!"

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Twinwillow)

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:19:21 GMT

Just don't get caught in NYC with any soda larger than 16 oz. or, uncle Bloomberg will throw your butt in jail.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (Pigiron)

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:26:01 GMT

~This is not directed at anyone or to any specific comment~

Just because someone you know lives to a ripe old age while doing something detrimental to their health, it's probably unwise to draw the conclusion that it's perfectly safe to do harmful things to yourself.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (cathyftr)

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 01:12:32 GMT

The thing that gets me about those who are "anti-soda" due to the product being unhealthy is that , at least from what I have seen in my neck of the woods, many of the very same people continue to smoke cigarettes/cigars and drink those energy drinks as if it was water. My neighbor is like this. A few months ago he gave up drinking soda "..they are very bad for one's health and I want no part of it" so he says YET he continues to drink can after can after can of Red Bull and smokes 3 packs of Marlboros Reds a day. Dittos with my 32 year old boss..he wont touch a soda at all but Rockstar..its all the way baby and he smokes Black & Mild Cigars.

..am I missing something ????

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (mjambro)

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:11:07 GMT

Actually, coffee has been reported in numerous sources to have health benefits including reduced likeliness of developing 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and dementia with fewer causes of certain cancers, heart rhythm problems, and strokes (similar deface vs. caffeinated).

More specifically, its minerals such as magnesium and chromium help the body use the hormone insulin, which controls blood sugar (glucose) where in type 2 diabetes, the body loses its ability to use insulin and regulate blood sugar effectively. Of course, as with everything, moderation is key since excessive consumption can contribute to high blood pressure and irregular heart rates, but the benefits typically greatly surpass the negatives.

That said, I only drink perhaps 1-2 cup / mo, but there are some potential benefits to drinking coffee vs. no benefits for traditional sodas.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (6star)

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:17:55 GMT

mjambro

MellowRoast

You have a point, Glenn. People will slam sodas and then consume other other foods/beverages that are as bad or worse. And all with a straight face!

There's something worse than soda? What else has zero nutritive value which is also unhealthy?

Coffee loaded with artificial sweetener, for one. Coffee has no nutritive value. (Caffeine is not a nutritional requirement.) Which is why I cannot remember the last time I had a cup of coffee. Perhaps it was over 50 years ago.

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (mjambro)

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 12:20:29 GMT

MellowRoast

You have a point, Glenn. People will slam sodas and then consume other other foods/beverages that are as bad or worse. And all with a straight face!

There's something worse than soda? What else has zero nutritive value which is also unhealthy?

Re:Sodas...good or bad? (stricken_detective)

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:27:25 GMT

Everything in moderation. Including moderation.

My grandparents grew up in the Great Depression. Christmas time meant one bottle of soda being shared with 5-8 siblings, and it was a Big. Deal. As a result they always had plenty of soda around.

I am looking forward to Green River on tap very soon!