There is real concern that as much as one whole can of cola a day can be damaging.

The problem is not with all soft drinks, mostly cola. Phosphoric acid is ingredient that we want to avoid.

In addition to cola, phosphoric acid is now being added to root beers and even some 'organic, natural' drinks such as bottled green tea beverages.

This is especially true during the peak bone-building years of childhood, and it has a negative effect on body chemistry and bone balance no matter what age we are as we consume soft drinks.

A 1996 study published in the Journal of Nutrition by the FDA's Office of Special Nutritionals noted that a pattern of high phosphorus/low calcium consumption, common in the American diet, diminishes bone growth during those years when bone growth should be building toward peak bone mass in young women.

Grace Wyshak of Harvard is known for the early work in this area. In 1994 Dr. Wyshak published a report showing a relationship of soft drinks to increased fractures in active young girls.

Active girls who drank colas were about five times more likely to suffer bone fractures than active girls who did not drink colas.

In 2000, Dr. Neville Golden wrote an editorial in the Archives of Adolescent Medicine, in which he writes 'osteoporosis is a pediatric disease with geriatric consequences'; meaning, of course, that we establish bone loss early, and it shows up as a problem decades later.

Osteoporosis can be so simple to prevent!

If you enjoy soft drinks, ask yourself a few questions about cola. Phosphoric acid, if a daily habit, will outweigh the enjoyment in your later years.

• What exactly is it about colas that you enjoy?
• Why do you have the next one instead of water?
• Is it the flavor?
• The ice cubes?
• The fizz?

Maybe you will decide it is just a habit, and an expensive one at that.

Soft Drinks Are Expensive

• Having a soft drink while having lunch or dinner at a restaurant will add a dollar or two to your bill, while water is usually served at no charge.
• This especially applies to cola. Phosphoric acid in a soft drink changes our body chemistry, and will ultimately rob us of our health. Visits to the doctor eventually cost way more what we spend when we buy them.

Soft drinks create a number of health problems. They are related to

• gaining weight (even the diet drinks)
• inability to lose weight (even the diet drinks)
• diabetes (even the diet drinks);
• hormone imbalances;
• bone loss - osteoporosis and osteopenia
• and more.

There is nothing good about colas - there is simply no benefit to them.

And there are significant health problems related to them.

Make a new choice; find a replacement for the dark beverages.
Water is what we need.

Read the label, just in case.

Root beer is not the same as cola; root beer is brewed rather than being a mixed concoction of liquids and gasses, like colas and most other soda beverages. In reading the labels, though, we were surprised to find several root-beers that include phosphoric acid.

In fact, it is added now to other drinks, not just cola. Phosphoric acid is what you want to avoid - read the label. We have found cream soda, vanilla soda, even the custom-small-label brands include it.

We were surprised to see phosphoric acid on the 'all-natural-looking' label of a popular bottled 'Green-Tea-with-Citrus' beverage.

Why do they do this? The beverage industry is huge, and they have enormous profits. We like the 'mouth-feel' and the flavor.

It's important to your health that you make water your beverage of choice.

It's really simple. Next time you have a meal out of the house, just ask for water.

Try it... when the server asks what you'd like to drink, you say "water, please."

That's how you do it.

Add lemon if you want,and at the end of the meal, eat the lemon... it will give you some vitamin C, and freshen your breath at the same time!

It's easy, it will save you money, and it will save your health.

You are worth it.

Doc

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