There's no surprise that there are high rates of obesity in America, but most people are unaware of the unhealthy factors of sugar-sweetened beverages. In general, the public is ignorant of the fact that sugary drinks are a leading cause of obesity. The Obesity Society (TOS) says sodas, sports drinks, and other beverages primarily made of water and added sugar contribute to 6-7% of American's calorie intake. Researchers have faced challenges with isolating the negative impact of foods and drinks on body weight, but studies conducted on sugar drinks have showed important data leading to their conclusion. The researchers' evidence shows that humans with a higher body max index consume more sugary beverages than thinner people. They present the idea of decreasing sugar drink intake to reduce overall calories consumed, which would help with weight loss. This is an accurate idea because weight gain happens when an individual's calorie intake is greater than the calories burned in a period of time, so less calorie intake will reduce obesity. TOS highly suggests replacing unhealthy drinks like soda and sports drinks with the calorie-free and much more beneficial drink: water. More research of this topic is to come from The Obesity Society, and they encourage scientists, clinicians, etc. to further explore the caloric density of foods and drinks. This science based information is sure to help improve America's health and reduce obesity.
NOS Themes:
- Science is collaborative
- Science is based on evidence
- Role of credibility
- Role of motivation and curiosity
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140423132427.htm
After reading this article, I wanted to do more research on alternatives to sports drinks because of their harmful effects. Director of Sport's Nutrition at the University of California, Elizabeth Applegate, says that all natural drinks containing less sugar can still benefit a person after a tough workout and there won't be any long term health effects like there would be with certain sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade. Water is obviously the best option, but after that drinks like Coconut Water and fruit juices are the best way to go.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/04/sports-drink-alternative_n_1557221.html