Over the past 40 years the consumption of soda has increased substantially, much to the pleasure of the soda manufacturers; however, so have the ill effects of its over consumption.

The fact is that today kids consume way too much sugar as compared to 40 years ago. Teenagers are drinking less milk and, as a result, are getting less calcium. They are getting about 40% of their energy/sugar calories from soft drinks.

Currently, teens are drinking half as much milk as soda as compared to 20 years ago. There have been research studies which show that teenage girls who require 1300mg of calcium/day are only getting about 800mg. This lack of calcium can predispose one to broken bones and osteoporosis. Calcium is also important for bone development up to the age of 18.

It is a natural fact that teenage girls who drink too much soda have a much greater risk of breaking a bone or developing osteoporosis. Three cans of soda/day poses a serious risk for teenage boys. Males in the 12 to 29 age range are known to be the single largest group of people who indulge in soda. The risks to one’s health from the over consumption of soda include tooth decay and destruction, osteoporosis, obesity, kidney stones, and diabetes.

Soda contents include caffeine, acid, additive dye, and a high fructose corn syrup. An average can of soda has about 10 to 12 tsp of sugar or 40 to 48 grams of phosphoric or carbonic acid.

The fructose syrup contains zero nutritional value. Caffeine, which is stimulant that is mildly addictive, causes calcium excretion that can result in an increased risk of kidney stones and osteoporosis.

Most people think that the sugar in the soda is bad and that is what causes tooth decay. However, the research shows that the real danger is in the acid. The phosphoric or carbonic acid dissolves the calcium out of the enamel leaving it a softened matrix for bacteria to enter the teeth and cause wholesale tooth destruction. Therefore, sugar free sodas are not a viable answer.

Most individuals who drink a lot of soda range from some minor decalcification of teeth, with white bands of softened enamel which encircle the teeth at or near the gum line to cases where numerous teeth are totally destroyed from decay.

Many of these individuals are students who study while continuously sipping a soda which creates an acid bath for their teeth. Don’t forget the fact that the sugar itself is also converted to acid by the bacteria on the teeth. Coupled all this with poor dental hygiene and you have a recipe for an oral disaster in the making.

The public should be educated regarding the ill effects and the soda companies need to take some responsibility since they insist on glorifying drinking their brands as being a sort of cool. So the next time your kids or you drink a soda, be aware and concerned. Always use moderation. Don’t bathe your teeth in acid, rinse with water and practice good oral hygiene.

Milk and dairy products are an important part of people’s diet. Milk products are a good source of energy and protein, and contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals.

This good chart, I’ve found in www.whfoods.com, graphically details the %DV that a serving of Milk, 2%, cow’s provides for each of the nutrients of which it is a good, very good, or excellent source according to our Food Rating System.

A cup of cow’s milk supplies 29.7% of the daily value for calcium along with 23.2% of the DV for phosphorus. Low-fat or fat-free milk is a great source of calcium because:

1. Milk is widely available and is already a part of many people’s diets.
2. Milk contains a lot of calcium in a form that the body can easily absorb.
3. Milk has other important nutrients that are good for bones and teeth. One especially important nutrient is vitamin D, which helps the body absorb more calcium.

6 points of calcium importance:

1. Help protect colon cells from cancer-causing chemicals
2. Help prevent migraine headaches in those who suffer from them
3. Help overweight adults lose weight, especially around the midsection
4. Help prevent the bone loss that can occur as a result of menopause or certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
5. Reduce PMS symptoms during the luteal phase (the second half) of the menstrual cycle
6. Help prevent childhood obesity

Milk also is great sources of protein and vitamins A and B12.

There are three main varieties of milk:

1. Full-fat Milk (four percent fat or 10 grams of fat per glass)
2. Reduced-fat Milk (two percent fat or four grams of fat per glass)
3. Low-fat Milk (less than one percent fat or less than one gram of fat per glass)

If you want to be a thinner you have to choose Low-fat Milk. But if you have to be a more healthy you have to choose Full-fat Milk and drink it once a week not more often, maybe more seldom.

Milk has been used for human consumption for thousands of years. Today cow’s milk is one of the most popular animal milks consumed by humans. Around the world, people drink the milk of many other animals including camels, goats, llamas, reindeer, sheep and water buffalo. Milk comes in all varieties: whole, 2%, skim, chocolate, strawberry. There’s soy milk, rice milk, and even goat milk.

Milk allergy and intolerance

Some people have an intolerance to milk. This is called ‘lactose intolerance’. Lactose intolerance can cause symptoms such as bloating and diarrhea.

But don’t cut milk and dairy products out of your diet, or your child’s diet, without talking to your GP or a dietitian. Otherwise you or your child might not get enough of important nutrients such as calcium.
Although lactose intolerance in humans can be a problem for some people, because after weaning, humans tend to become less lactose tolerant (their ‘gut’ can no longer break it down to to adsorb it), it is NOT so for those who are predisposed to remain lactose tolerant (western racial groups) and others who continue to drink it from childhood.

There are many different opinions about beverages of milk. If it healthy? At first, people must listen to their body, if milk good for their health. As much people as much fillings as much preferences.
This article is about benefits of milk. If it’s good for you – drink milk and enjoy it, if it’s not good – drink juice and enjoy it!