Sugary Drink Habit Is Widespread in U.S.

[dkf]

Aug. 31, 2011 -- Half of the U.S. population age 2 or older indulges in sugary drinks on any given day, new research finds.

"Men drink more than women, and teens and young adults drink the most," says Cynthia L. Ogden, PhD. Ogden is an epidemiologist at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.

The American Heart Association recommends drinking no more than 450 calories a week of sugar-sweetened drinks. That's less than three 12-ounce colas. In 2010, U.S. dietary guidelines recommended limiting the intake of both foods and beverages with added sugars.

Overall, men and boys drink an average of 175 calories from sugary drinks a day. That is more than one can of cola. Women and girls drank about 94 calories a day. That is less than one cola a day.

Sugary drink intake in the U.S. has increased over the last 30  years. Sugared beverages have been linked with weight gain, obesity, poor diet, and, in adults, type 2 diabetes.

http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20110831/sugar-drink-habit-is-widespread-in-us

[virgogal]

1. Just say no !

[CTyankee]

2. This seems to be epidemic in the U.S. So GLAD DU is organizing against this!

Oh, wait...

[Rex]

3. But it is what the govt wanted and allowed to become standard

practice, so what? Can I sue the govt now over too many wild cherry slurpies!?

[bloomington-lib]

4. In the Midwest these are waaaaay more common than a can of whatever

And some people drink 2 or 3 a day.

[aquart]

24. What is that?

[aquart]

5. An herbal teabag in a glass of selzer over ice. Sublime.

No sweetener needed.

[spin]

12. I'll have to try that. (n/t)

[aquart]

15. Take the bag out when it's strong enough.

[Prefix]

6. I quit drinking soda 3 mo. ago

Best decision I've ever made. I sleep well at night, I'm alert in the morning, and I've lost about 10 lb. by not consuming those empty calories.

The first 4 days without caffeine were absolute hell, but worth it once the headaches subsided.

[global1]

7. I Gave Up Sodas & Vitamin Water In 2009 & I Lost ......

16 pounds and never felt better. I only drink water & unsweetened teas. Sometimes I flavor the water with lemon. High fructose corn syrup is unhealthy. My advice is to quit all drinks with high fructose corn syrup in them. You won't regret it.

[Fumesucker]

8. I don't think that includes the artificially sweetened drinks..

I suspect that women would catch up to men in the amount of drinks consumed if you included artificial sweeteners.

[Kingofalldems]

9. I have one coke or pepsi a day. No alcohol.

What is wrong with that?

[FLAprogressive]

10. Gave up soda except on rare occasions....I've lost like 30 pounds.

[spin]

11. I don't drink sugary drinks but ...

I sure hope to hell that my Democratic Party doesn't go on a campaign to ban them or tax the hell out of them.

I have absolutely no problem with a campaign to better educate people about why they should cut down on such drinks.

Campaign to Reduce Sugar Drink Intake

A new campaign to help lovers of sugar drinks reduce their habit is being launched today by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

It is called "Life's Sweeter with Fewer Sugary Drinks." It will include city public health departments and organizations such as the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association, says Jeff Cronin, a spokesman.

The goal, he says, is to decrease intake of soda and sugary drinks down to the American Heart Association recommendation of fewer than three cans per person per week.

Among the cities signing on, he says, are Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Some cities already have launched programs.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20110831/sugar-drink-habit-is-widespread-in-us?page=2

Note: I drink unsweetened ice tea with a touch of lemon and beer. I try to hold the beer down to no more than two a day. Football season makes this challenging.

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. I don't like sweet drinks... Unsweetened ice tea, black coffee, milk or water.

I never drink cola unless it's my only choice and I'm dying of thirst. We don't even buy soda anymore and haven't for years.

[Ter]

14. Why?

I understand if it's for health/dental reasons, but how could anyone not like sweets? As I'm typing this I'm eating a cookie with soda. :)

[aquart]

16. I love sweets. But not in my drinks.

And a sweet cookie with a sweet drink? UGH!

Now pecan pie and black coffee..........ahhhhh.

[spin]

19. I also do not like sweet drinks and rarely eat pie, cake or cookies ...

to me beer tastes sweet.

[Blasphemer]

21. Ditto on the sweet cookie/sweet drink combo

I love chocolate and assorted sweet treats and desserts but adding a sweet drink to the mix is a kind of sugar overload that I can't handle anymore. Once upon a time, I hated coffee and the idea of drinking it black was disgusting. Now, I love it (though I avoid drinking too much).

[Lionessa]

17. Actually back when it was sugar and not HFCS, I don't remember so much

trouble and yet between KoolAid and sodas we drank as many sugary (real sugar) drinks as mentioned in the article and none of us were fat much less obese. By us, I mean the neighborhood, boys, girls, teens. Gosh we even made almost daily treks to the Mr Ms for even more sugar in the form of candy.

I don't believe it's sugar, but HFCS that's the problem. This is why I still drink sweet tea, couple or three glasses a day minimum, but I make it myself so I know it's sugar and not substitutes.

[glowing]

18. I really have to work on my intake... As I get older, its just unnecessarily added weight

and unneeded sugar. But it is addicting.. Sugar and caffein is addicting. One literally has to adjust downward off of these substances... Going cold turkey will just make your body feel like crap if you consume a lot.

[Blasphemer]

20. I quit the sugary drinks over nine years ago and I have never looked back

All I would drink as a child was juice and soda. Drinking water was reserved for after gym class or randomly from school water fountains. My habits undoubtedly contributed to the weight issues and overall poor nutrition I had as a child and adolescent. These days, I rarely drink juices (I tend to opt for the whole fruit) and drink tons of water. I wish I had never developed the sugar addiction. I will say that sugary drinks were not an option in my elementary and middle school cafeterias. My high school had a couple of vending machines but they weren't too popular for reasons I can't recall. My habit was developed at home. It all started with Kool-Aid, which I absolutely cannot stand anymore.

[HappyMe]

22. I have 2-3 cans of Mountain Dew weekly.

Not the diet version. I don't like that strange metallic taste diet soda has.

I don't know what part of 'moderation' people don't understand.

[Stevenmarc]

23. Was never brought up with soda except for the occasional

Dr. Browns Cream Soda when I have a pastrami sandwich at the deli.

Honestly today I bike to do grocery shopping so why would I want to lug heavy liquid full containers when I have water delivered at the tap that I can make any number of beverages from.