Yet Another Really Scary Reason Why Kids Shouldn't Drink Soda - Do your kids drink soda?

[Cafe Steph]

Yet Another Really Scary Reason Why Kids Shouldn't Drink Soda

Posted by Jacqueline Burt on February 9, 2012 

We already knew soda could rot our kids' teeth, make them obese and give them ADHD. (Talk about a product that offers plenty of bang for its buck!) Oh, and that it could probably burn through their insides (if the Mountain Dew/mouse goo lawsuit is any indication).

Now comes what could potentially be the scariest news about soda's physically harmful effects yet: People ages 16 and up who drink more than half a liter of soda per day are more than twice as likely to develop asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

Yikes! More than twice as likely?!

How exactly does a beverage affect the respiratory system? Well, the researchers aren't entirely sure just yet. The study was cross-sectional so it couldn't prove causality, just guilt ... by association. High soda intake was one of the characteristics of the asthma/COPD sufferers, but it's not certain one led to the other.

What is certain? Not surprisingly, smoking was another common characteristic among those with breathing problems. A little game of theoretical connect-the-dots would suggest that people who drink a lot of soda are people who tend to be less health-conscious in general, and therein lies the connection between pop and lung diseases.

Now, I must admit -- I'm not a huge fan of my kids or anybody's kids drinking soda, but I wouldn't quite classify it as a gateway drug, so to speak. Still, it's not like we needed more proof soda is bad for us.

Kids will be kids and I'm not fool enough to believe a teen isn't going to order a 95-ounce soda as soon as mom drops him off at the movies, but at least as parents we can vocalize our opinions on soda and make it a policy to not keep it in the house.

Does your kid drink a lot of soda? Does the link between soda and breathing problems scare you?

[momofne]

WoW!

[luckysevenwow]

Ugh..all this research and in a few years they will come back and say "sorry we were wrong, there were other factors we missed the first time".

Moderation...moderation.

[OHgirlinCA]

 I simply cannot take this article seriously based on the first sentence claiming that soda gives kids ADHD.  That is simply not true. 

Soda along with a bad diet contributes to obesity and breathing issues are contributed to obesity as well.  Soda isn't to blame.  People who drink it daily along with poor diets and lack of exercise are to blame.  It's about personal responsibility. 

Of course, soda is not the best drink of choice.  Moderation, as with anything, is the key.  I allow my children to have it from time to time, but they do not have it every day.  My 4 year old has had it maybe 5 times in his life so far, and my 13 year old has soda about 2 or 3 times a month. 

My 16 year old daughter has decided not to drink any soda, and hasn't had any since the beginning of January.  She's drinking alot more water, which I think is great. 

[Alysse24]

What's scary is that Jacqueline Burt has written for parenting magazines and the New York Post!  I think she should stick to writing about the Kardashian's.

[atlmom2]

I thought COPD was caused mainly by smoking etc.  How in the world could they connect lung disease to soda?  Sounds strange to me and I am not sure I believe it. 

[cat4458]

I'm not a pop drinker.  Maybe with pizza once in a while but for many reasons I don't drink it. My dh & dd don't drink it either except rarely w/pizza. My dd at a party or sleepover will.  Mostly cuz it's another thing that hooks ya & is expensive.  Here maybe another reason, maybe.... hard to believe tho.

Quoting luckysevenwow:

Ugh..all this research and in a few years they will come back and say "sorry we were wrong, there were other factors we missed the first time".

Moderation...moderation.

 

[jjchick75]

We drink some soda but always in moderation. I agree with the others not sure I can trust this article when some of the things they said soda causes are just not true!

[Not_A_Native]

I dislike soda myself - I had a dentist when I was 19 who went into great detail about the damage it causes (sugar is the least of it), and how its worse now than it was in the 50's and 60's - not just the HFCS, but also the chemicals used to make it "fizz."   In fact, after that talk, I didn't drink ANY carbonated beverages for a good 5 years no matter what.

I'm nto so hardcore now, but it was never something we just "had" around.  I'll buy it now (my youngest, only one home, is 17), but she would rather drink fruit type things.  Not sure that's better, but she IS 17.  My oldest doesn't drink it at all, neither does my older daughter.  My middle daughter will from time to time, but usually she has water

 

[fantasticfour]

My kids don't drink alot of soda, and no this article doesn't scare me.  They don't drink alot of soda for the sugar in it, not for any other reason.  They get it on occassion but that's all.  As for the scare, well one year chocolate causes cancer the next year it cures it.  So you can't really trust all the "fad" research being done.

[Sunshineal]

Okay, time to show where my daughter gets her sarcasm from:

Is there anything in this world that if used or taken in EXCESS that it won't hurt you? Moderation is the key in everything.

Just saying.