Soft Drinks Fill Beverage Case in Chinese Restaurant
posted Sunday, 15 November 2009
We see Asian women and men as being slim. They must be doing something right, it would seem. They traditionally drink tea with their meals and eat plenty of vegetables. It seems like their eating habits would be a model that we would want to follow.
I was thinking about that today when I was in a Chinese Restaurant. In their beverage case were cans of all different soft drinks - Coke, Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Sprite, and on and on. So they are catering to to the American diet. It's a shame that they are not sticking to their traditions. What a treat it would be for us to have a traditional meal in a Chinese restaurant and leave our poor American eating habits behind, even for this one meal. (I'm saying this never having been to China, I do not know if they are even serving soft drinks today. If they are, it's a shame that they are adopting the American ways.)
A primary factor contributing to degenerative diseases plaguing America is the consumption of soft drinks, which happens to be the #1 drink in America. According to the National Soft Drink Association, soft drinks are sold in at least sixty percent of all public and private middle schools and high schools nationwide.
Here are some interesting facts:
- The average American drinks an estimated fifty six gallons of soft drinks each year.
- One can of soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar, 150 calories, 30 to 55 mg of caffeine, and is loaded with artificial food colors and sulphites.
- Soda accounts for more than one-quarter of all drinks consumed in the United States.
- In the past ten years, soft drink consumption among children has almost doubled in the United States. Teenage boys now drink, on average, three or more cans of soda a day, and ten percent drink seven or more cans a day.
- The average for teenage girls is more than two cans of soda a day, and ten percent drink more than five cans a day.
Is it really that terrible having a soft drink with your meal? Yes, yes, yes! Soft drinks are loaded with sweeteners, such as high fructose corn syrup, or sugar substitutes like aspartame. The sugar in soda is nothing but empty calories and acts as an anti-nutrient.
My next article will talk more about the harmful ingredients contained in soft drinks. Until then... let's all have a glass of water.
I am a virtual wellness coach where coaching is by phone from the comfort of your own home. Sign up for coaching on my website or email me at mywellnesscoach@verizon.net. Also, contact me for a free consultation.
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Barbara Leynor
Certified Wellness Coach
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