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Tuesday 16 November 2010

Not so soft


With aluminum prices escalating, the prices of soft drinks have risen due to demand and production cost. Commercialized by artificially infused demand, superbly cool ads and the current way of life, consumption of soft drinks have hit our shores and increased the risk of obesity and diabetes in adults and children.
Cooling and refreshing to the throat may not be good to the body. Many brands of carbonated and soft drinks are purely poison to the body.  Osteoporosis, obesity, tooth decay, cancer, and malnutrition have been connected to the consumption of soft drinks. Regardless numerous denials and press conferences headed by spokespersons of Coca-cola, Pepsi, F & N and all other brands, the fact still remains; a can of soft drink is filled with sugar/artificial sweeteners, caffeine, acids, carbon dioxide, distilled water, preservatives, artificial flavorings and colorings.
Lately, the Malaysian government, parental and consumers associations are strongly against the selling of junk food and soft drinks in school canteens. Due to the rise of type-2 diabetes in young children and teenagers and the increase of unhealthy eating habits, the call for a ban is timely. Sugar is a drug, equivalent to cocaine. A cocaine addict develops a strong urge of craving at least every 4 hours, the same effects and craving exists in sugary foods and drinks. Sugar is a drug! Activists, NGOs, and parents around Malaysia applaud the current movement of scraping junk food including soft drinks in school canteens and children menus. Even though these measures should have been implemented a long time ago just as our counterparts in US, Canada and European regions, Malaysia is on the right path of creating awareness on consumerism and purchasing power.
Before you succumb to the pleas and whining of your loved ones, here are some facts you might want to consider before purchasing a can of soft drink

Dangers lurking in your drink:
·         Each can or bottle contains at least 4-15 teaspoon of sugar or artificial sweeteners (we are required to consume only 8-11 teaspoons throughout the day)
·         Soft drinks create an eating binge of other food as the sugar level rapidly increases and decreases making the consumer hungry after a few minutes.
·         Artificial sweeteners have been banned in most European countries due to the high level of toxin which contributes to headaches, memory loss, depression, and edginess.
·         Caffeine is also part of the deadly concoction of a soft drink. It has 1/3 of caffeine found in a cup of coffee which leads to calcium depletion, nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia.
·         Acids are important in preserving food especially soft drinks. The acid gives the sting on the tongue and makes it thirst quenching. Unfortunately the consumers becomes more thirsty after that
·         We would die if we inhaled carbon dioxide however when we consume a can of drink we infuse carbon dioxide into our blood streams.
·         Distilled water clean impurities and dissolves minerals too. It may be good for preserving but daily consumption can have adverse effects.
The ultimate solution to this problem is, consume fresh fruit juices or homemade drinks. The universal solvent, thirst quenching and cheapest drink is water and a bottle of water can prevent all the unnecessary diseases inflicted by just a can of drink!- Written by TDA

Image from Consumer Association Penang 


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