Comprehensive Evaluation of Soft Drinks, Effects On Health, and Nutritional Strategies To Reverse Damage

The consumption of soft drinks in America has drastically increased in the last thirty years coincidently with an inverse relationship to our nation’s health. Over half of our adult population is overweight and battling diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis. The statistics are alarming when looking at children who are now being diagnosed with these same conditions. The quality of life for these individuals will greatly be compromised unless we start to make some lifestyle changes. One major change we can all do today is to evaluate our consumption of food products that could be causing our ill health. In this paper I will evaluate the ingredients in soft drinks and give some of the research behind how damaging these are to our health. I will also discuss the alternative beverage options and give nutritional strategies to reverse some of the damage caused by chronic soft drink consumption.