The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soda and juice, has increased significantly among kids over the past few decades, according to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. This, in conjunction with decreased physical activity and limited access to healthy foods, has increased the incidence of childhood obesity and Type-2 diabetes. In general, most health experts see soda and juice as nothing more than sugar and calorie bombs with little nutritional benefit and many adverse effects.
Many children and their parents perceive juice as healthier than soda, but both beverages contain about the same amount of calories. An 8-ounce serving of juice or soda typically contains about 120 to 150 calories, primarily from sugar. Diet sodas contain zero calories, but MayoClinic.com warns that artificial sweeteners can increase sugar cravings and induce excess food intake.
Juice does have an advantage over soda -- it contains some vitamins and minerals. These nutrients occur naturally or are added during the manufacturing process, such as in orange juice fortified with calcium and vitamins A and D. Some juices, like pomegranate and orange, have 1 to 2 grams of protein. Very few sodas are fortified with vitamins and minerals; however, a few health experts concede that these varieties are better than the originals.
Affects on Diet and Body
The UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital website states that high-sugar drinks do not create a sense of fullness, so children continue to eat food in addition to the hundreds of excess sugar-based calories already consumed. Also, children and adolescents who primarily drink soda and juice do not drink enough milk, which has led to decreased calcium and an increased risk of weak bones and osteoporosis. Lastly, the caffeine in sodas acts as a diuretic, which causes dehydration.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that as of 2011, about 33 percent of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. Sweetened drinks, including both juice and soda, contribute significantly to this epidemic. A study published in “Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine” in 2012 found that up to 85 percent of school children have at least one can of soda every day. Schools across the country have attempted to ban sodas from middle and high school campuses, but a study published in 2011 in the “Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine” concluded that these bans did not affect the growing rate of childhood obesity, since students simply bought other high-calorie sugary drinks instead, such as juice and energy drinks.
Water and low-fat milk should comprise the majority of your child’s beverage intake; however, many parents will attest to the challenge of getting their child to drink plain water. As a result, some experts suggest serving your child a glass of half water and half juice and gradually decreasing the amount of juice until only a minimal amount is needed to provide just enough flavor. The “Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine” study notes that soda, including diet varieties, 100 percent juice, sports drinks and energy drinks should be offered only as occasional treats.
- UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital: Sweet Drinks and Obesity
- MayoClinic.com: Soda Consumption Linked to Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, Other Health Concerns
- ABC News: New Sodas Boast Vitamins and Minerals, But Are They Really Healthy?
- Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine: Sugary Drinks and Childhood Obesity
- Centers For Disease Control and Prevention: Childhood Overweight and Obesity – A Growing Problem
- Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine: Banning All Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Middle Schools
- juice image by DuÅ¡an Zidar from Fotolia.com