Sugar-sweetened beverages (see box at right) contain extra calories that provide little nutrition and can lead to unwanted weight gain. Being overweight and/or obese increases the risk of many chronic diseases, including:
high blood pressure
heart disease
cancer
stroke
type 2 diabetes.
Drinking a lot of sugary drinks can also lead to tooth decay - even diet drinks contain acid that can cause cavities. In addition, drinks with added sugar often replace healthy choices like low-fat milk which is a good source of calcium and vitamin D. This can lead to the development of osteoporosis, a decrease in bone density.
How much sugar are you drinking?
Watch these videos to find out.
Is sugar hiding in your drink?
High-calorie sweeteners go by many different names and are not always obvious in the ingredients list. If one or more of the following appear in the ingredients list of your favorite beverage, you are drinking a sugar-sweetened beverage:
Corn syrup
Dextrose
Fructose
Fruit juice concentrates
High-fructose corn syrup
Honey
Sucrose
Sugar
Syrup
How much sugar is in your drink?
Did you know?
In Shasta County, children between the ages of 6-17 are more likely than younger children to drink three or more sodas in a week.
A child's risk for obesity increases an average of 60 percent with every additional daily serving of soda.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, half of the population age 2 and older consumes sugary drinks - meaning soda, sweetened bottled water, sports and energy drinks and fruit drinks (but not 100-percent juice) - everyday.
To burn off the calories an average teen boy consumes in sugary drinks (240 calories from one 20oz cola), he would need to jog for thirty minutes or walk for more than one hour.
63% of U.S. high school students drink soda, sports drinks, energy drinks or other sugar sweetened beverages daily.
American teens drink almost twice as much soda and sweetened beverages as milk.
The average American consumes 50 gallons of soda and other sweetened beverages each year.
Marketers spend close to $500 million a year to reach children and adolescents with messages about sugar-sweetened drinks, more than they spend on any other category.
Statistics from the Center for Science in the Public Interest 2005; California Center for Public Health Advocacy Bulletin 2009; CDC 2010 Beverage Consumption; and Professional Research Consultants, Inc. 2011.
What can you do?
Make smart drink choices...try the following tips:
When thirsty, think water first.
Drink water when eating out – it’s free!
Drink 100% juice in limited amounts or mix juice with seltzer water.
Make flavor infused water by adding lemons, limes, berries, cucumbers, mint leaves or other natural flavors for a refreshing treat.
Choose unsweetened coffee or tea and lightly flavor it yourself.
Cut portion sizes of sugar-sweetened drinks by choosing a “small” instead of a “large”.
Sugar-sweetened beverages (see box at right) contain extra calories that provide little nutrition and can lead to unwanted weight gain. Being overweight and/or obese increases the risk of many chronic diseases, including:
