Sugary Drinks Blamed for Obesity Epidemic

Personally, I like sugar, and I imagine you do, too. However, these days it's regularly accused of being public enemy #1. The news media repeatedly recommend that parents cut fruit juice from their kids' diets and offer them a piece of fruit instead.  If they won't accept that, parents are advised to dilute the juice with 50% water.  Now carbonated beverages are also being vilified.  The latest general in the war against sugar is New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg.  If you haven't heard his proposal about soft drinks and seen the widespread warnings about fruit juice, read on.  

Bloomberg versus soda:

With only 18 months left in Bloomberg's final term in office, he needn't fear lobbyists and loss of political contributions. He's bravely taking on a powerful industry by announcing (on May 31), his proposal to ban sugary carbonated drinks exceeding 16 oz. from NYC's restaurants, delis, movie theaters, food carts, and sports venues. Excluded are the following: drinks sold in grocery stores, diet drinks, and most dairy-based drinks. Supersize soda portions are the target.  Will his proposed law pass?  Many say it will.  Bloomberg was able to get the smoking ban and the trans fat ban through, so why not this?

What's the point? Those who want 32 ounces of soda, can always buy two 16 oz. glasses.  Well, the theory is that people mindlessly consume what's in front of them; 16 oz. will satisfy if that's what they wind up taking to their table.  Bloomberg says he's not taking away anyone's rights; he's merely forcing people to make a conscious decision to go from one cup to the next. 

What's been the response to Bloomberg's proposal?  Bill Wilson, president of Americans for Limited Government, says, "Bloomberg's micromanaging nanny state strikes again."  In keeping with the nanny theme, on June 3, the Sunday New York Times ran a full-page ad with Bloomberg's head on a body dressed in supposedly typical nanny attire.  According to Frank Bruni, a New York Times op-ed columnist, "The proposed ban is also an act of government control and regulation that makes no small number of people squeamish." But he also says, "We're fat, folks" and believes that the portions people are served "have a big influence on what they consume."  In other words, Bloomberg's idea may help curb obesity and add to his legacy of creating a healthier NYC population and a healthier dining environment for tourists.

Fruit juices:

In May, 2012, HBO aired a show identifying fruit juice one of the enemies in the war on obesity, and the Chicago Tribune ran a piece entitled "Gulp! Is fruit juice bad for kids?" Public health officials have been responding to this question with a resounding "Yes!"

We can also thank the labeling requirements for making consumers aware of the sugar content in juices. Check out the sugar content in juices next time you're in the supermarket.  Keeping in mind that a teaspoon of sugar contains 4.2 mg. of sugar, how much sugar is in various drinks you buy?

Here's what the website Hooked on Juice (which claims that it is not an advocacy organization for soft drinks) lists as the amount of sugar and calories in 12 oz. of Coca-Cola and three different juices:

Coca-Cola: 10 tsp. of sugar, 145 calories

Apple juice: 10 tsp. of sugar, 165 calories

Orange juice: 8 tsp. of sugar, 165 calories

Grape juice: 15 tsp. of sugar, 240 calories 

Chicago Tribune statistics on sugar content (by specific brands of 12 oz. cans) are a bit lower but not sufficiently different to recommend consuming a lot of these drinks:

Coca-cola: 7.8 tsp.

Mott's 100% apple juice: 8.4 tsp.

Tropicana orange juice: 7.2 tsp.

Welch's 100% grape juice: 8.4 tsp.

JambaJuice all-fruit mango smoothie: 8 tsp.

Depending upon whose figures you use, Coca-Cola contains slightly less sugar than most or all juices.  So what?  All of these beverages are too high in sugar to be healthy. 

For more on fruit juices on this site (including the arsenic debate), click here: http://shelflifeadvice.com/content/juices-under-attack

Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics:  Limit juice consumption as follows: to 4-6 oz. for children ages 6 and under; to 8-12 oz. for children ages 7-18. 

In summation: Summertime, when most of us have a bigger thirst and are out and about away from home enjoying ball games, fairs, picnics, walks in the park, and so on, how can we resist  those sugary drinks?  Easy.  Carry along a bottle of water (preferably unsweetened). 

Source(s):

Chicago Tribune "Some find proposed ban on big drinks hard to swallow"

June 1, 2012

nytimes.com “Soda Industry Maps Strategy to Defeat Bloomberg Plan to Ban Super-Size Drinks"

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/02/nyregion/soda-industry-maps-campaign-to-defeat-bloomberg-plan.html

abcnewsgo.com "Soft Drink Industry Fights Back, Depicting Bloomberg as Nanny"

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/06/02/soft-drink-industry-fights-back-depicting-bloomberg-as-nanny/

nytimes.com "Trimming a Fat City"

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/opinion/sunday/bruni-trimming-a-fat-city.html

hookedonjuice.com "Hooked on Juice"

http://www.hookedonjuice.com/

Chicago Tribune "Gulp! Is fruit juice bad for kids?"  May 24, 2012