Background Soft drinks have become tied to the Americans living with the coca-cola company leading in the sale of soft drinks. In general, 500 soft drinks manufacturers are operating in the United States. The high number symbolizes the intake of soft drinks whereby data have demonstrated that Americans consume more soft drinks than any other beverage. In addition, soft drinks attribute to more than 30% of US beverage consumption. Coca-cola Company controls more than 60% of the U.S. soft drink market by producing the best-selling brands. This translates to the production of 2,000 gallons of soft drinks per minute in a single line of operation. What’s more about this industry? According to the National Soft Drinks Association (NSDA), the soft drink industry forms a large part of the U.S. economy generating thousands of jobs, buying both products and services from other industries, and contributing valuable foundations in the local communities (Berkey 2004, p. 778).
Products bought by the soft drink companies include; flavorings, metal cans and plastics used for packaging. Other commodities are advertising services, fruits and vegetables, corn syrup, carbonated water, sugar and many others that render the production of a soft drink. Development The soft drink industry started in the mid-1880 when the syrup was created and mixed with carbonated water and taken over the drug stores counter during lunchtime. Selling of the soft drink required the fountain service hence the drug stores remained as the selling point during this era. This however led to the development of bottling machinery in the U.S. and by 1895 the soft drink was sold in all states. In short duration, a massive of independent coca-cola bottlers formed the model of distribution and others like the Pepsi-cola industry followed suit. The years 1960 and 1970 saw the diversification for the two soft drink industries. In 1960, the coca-cola company bought Minute Maid and Duncan foods. In 1965, Pepsi-cola merged with Frito-Lay and later acquired Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Taco Bell restaurants. In 1980, consumers become more aware of health problems associated with soft drinks. This however led to a decline in the market of soft drinks whereas on the other hand bottled water increased their sales. This prompted the soft drink manufacturers to develop low-calorie and non-caffeine drinks such as diet coke and diet Pepsi. By 1992, coca-cola had faced stiff competition from other soft drink manufacturers. The kaleidoscope of traditional soft drinks showed decline and manufacturers sought solutions by introducing new age beverages. These have projected a growth rate of 8-11 percent annually by 1996. The market is flooded with the plethora of new-age drinks from many companies. Outlook Even though soft drinks have been entangled with the lifestyle of Americans they are linked to several harmful effects. Major health reforms in the U.S. indicate that it cost a single person $6000-$8000 to have sustainable healthcare. United States of America is ranked 23rd among the most privileged countries in the world has advantaged health care for its citizens. Cancer is prevalent in the U.S. and research has shown that the root cause of this disease is mortality which stems from cardiovascular disorders. Recent research has demonstrated that mortality caused by cancer is low in other nations. It is therefore at this point to point out the content of soft drinks that might lead to harmful health effects to shed light and expose the danger associated with the soft drinkers (Berkey 2004, p. 885).
Content of soft drinks and their effects Typically soft drinks also known as carbonated beverages are popular drinks around the world. However, they contain harmful ingredients and their overconsumption should be avoided. This includes; mixture of carbonated water, citric acid, potassium, caffeine, phosphoric acid, aluminum, aspartame, caramel color, and high fructose corn syrup. Each one of this content has is associated with adverse health effects as outlined in the following paragraphs. Some of the disorders linked to consumption of soft drinks include; tooth decay, obesity, osteoporosis as well as nutritional deficiencies (Golden 2000, p. 542). Very important is educating consumers about the side effects of these harmful soft drinks. When a person takes the beverage, there is no immediate negative reaction such as vomiting or diarrhea but a refreshing and energizing feeling of caffeine, sour taste of phosphoric acid with a sweet taste of sugar to complement this sour taste and bubbling of carbon dioxide. The contents of soft drinks have a long-term effect on our body since they cause imbalances that end in the above debilitating disorders. Phosphoric acid is used to enhance the incorporation of carbon dioxide in the drink to reduce the pressure in order for the beverage to be bottled with a metal cup. Phosphoric acid is the key cause of osteoporosis and bone fracturing. Phosphoric acid and carbon dioxide remove the nutritious minerals from bones causing the bones to become weak and thereby likelihood of breakage. The phosphorous-calcium ratio is disrupted by phosphoric acid which easily dissolves calcium from the bones (Berkey 2004, p. 780). This acid is strong and is used widely to clean deposits in our showers. Shockingly, a tooth can decay in phosphoric acid (Tahmassebi, Duggal & Malik-Kotru 2003, pp. 2-3).
To neutralize the acid in the body, high levels of alkaline metals are needed which include calcium, magnesium, and sodium. Mucoid plaque is typically caused by low sodium content in the intestine. This further generates boils and colitis diseases. In addition, a decrease in magnesium in the body has been linked to causing heart diseases. The production of hydrochloric acid is hampered by high levels of phosphoric acid and this may affect food digestion and absorption. Poor digestion of these food varieties leads to various diseases such as anemia and weak bones. Research has confirmed that caffeine is a mild drug with harmful effects, especially to children. Soft drinks contain caffeine yet they are the most widely consumed in the U.S. The drug stimulates the central nervous system (CNS). Although, it is a stimulant, if a large amount is consumed, they result in deleterious diseases like anxiety, insomnia, nervousness as well as irritability. People who take caffeine have developed an addiction problem. Consequently, the high levels of caffeine cause large secretion of calcium from the body thus an alarming case of osteoporosis (Golden 2000, p. 542).
Currently, an underway research has far associated caffeine with birth defects. The dark coloration in soft drink bottles is the presence of caramel color. Caramel color is the chemical referred to as polyethylene glycol. The chemical is obtained by baking sugar to characteristic brown color. Caramel causes cancer and also has genetic effects. On the other hand, aspartame has been used as a substitute for sugar. During digestion, aspartame is broken down into three components namely aspartic acid, methanol and phenylalanine. Aspartic acid is toxic and the main cause of neurological disorders. Methanol is metabolized to formaldehyde in the liver. This product is the key agent of carcinogenic, mutagen and teratogen that leads to birth defects. Accumulation of methanol results in headaches, memory lapses, numbness as well as nerve inflammation. Other body challenges caused by aspartame are blindness and blurred vision. Phenylalanine affects the brain’s neurotransmitters by decreasing serotonin. This condition causes depression and lack of sleep. Cancer is also caused by the sweetening ingredient-saccharin. The Food and Drug Administration (FDO) has authorized the industries to stop using saccharin as a sweeter after concluded research confirmed that it is a carcinogenic agent. Contrary to this firm position by the FDO, saccharin is still being used as a sweetener! A bottle of soda which is 12-ounce contains approximately 33 grams of sugar. High intake of sugar increases the excretion of various elements in the body such as calcium, copper, zinc, chromium among others. With the loss of calcium in the body, the hormone parathyroid is secreted causing the removal of calcium from bones activating the cause of arthritis and gout. Diabetes which is rapidly growing is also caused by the imbalances of insulin secretions which render the pancreas non-functional. Aging is accelerated by accumulation of waste in the body caused by the clumping of the red blood cells. The cause is a build-up of sugar that hampers the flow of blood and delivery of oxygen to all parts of the body. The sugar also forms caries (caused by mutans streptococci) which affects the enamel part of the tooth leading to tooth decay (Tahmassebi, Duggal & Malik-Kotru 2003, pp. 2-3).
Finally, the toxic aluminum metal is consumed by those who take soft drinks. The bottle cap is made up of aluminum. To protect phosphoric acid from reaching the toxic metal, a plastic coating was added to the interior part of the aluminum can. Most surprisingly is that research has proved that phosphoric acid leaches the plastic coat depositing aluminum to the soft drink. Once in the body, aluminum is deposited in the brain which leads to neurofibrillary tangles. This is popular in individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, aluminum leads to bone fracturing since it increases the removal of calcium from the body. Soft drinks among children Children are not aware of the dangers associated with soft drinks. Parents play a major role in exposing their children to this harmful health effect by encouraging and buying their soft drinks. Several investigators have accumulated reports on the influence of parents and trends of soft drinking in kids. New-age flavored beverages continue to flourish in the market despite the effects they pose to the population. Awareness of taking soft drinks should be created through the media, hospitals and education forum and their effects elaborated. Parents should not take such drinks in their children’s presence since it encourages them to also consume. Adverts for these soft drinks should also include their harmful effect to make people aware of what they consume on daily basis. Parents are role models in the kid’s life and children want to emulate their habits. Therefore, parents should encourage the young ones to take drinks made from naturally occurring fruits like mangos, oranges, pineapples among others. The substitute Carbon dioxide is a waste product from our body and yet we consume this same obnoxious ingredient by taking soft drinks. Why consume this and we can find a substitute? Healthy juices can be made from naturally occurring fruits (100% fruit juice) that will also add nutritive value to the body. Milk and water are other valuable substitutes that can be taken instead of soft drinks.
List of References
Golden, N. 2000, ‘Osteoporosis prevention-A pediatric challenge’, Archives ofpediatrics & adolescent medicine, vol. 1, No. 54, pp. 542–3
Tahmassebi, J., Duggal, G. & Malik-Kotru, M. 2003, ‘Soft drinks and dental health: A review of the current literature’, Journal of Dentistry, Vol. 34, No.1, Pp. 2-11
Berkey, C.S., Rockett H., Field, A., et al. 2004, ‘Sugar-added beverages and adolescent weight change’, Obesity Research, Vol. 12, pp. 778–88.
American Medical Association, Council on Foods and Nutrition. 1942, ‘Some nutritional aspects of sugar, candy and sweetened carbonated beverages’, JAMA, vol. 120, pp. 763–5.