1 Corinthians 13:11 It's like this: when I was a child I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I became a man [a woman] my thoughts grew far beyond those of my childhood, and now I have put away the childish things. [Living Bible translation]
SODA/POP "back then"
If you are like me, you probably recall drinking a lot of soda as a kid. In fact, soda, especially in the summer time, was a common household beverage. Every member of the household had their favorite soda. You may have memories of going to the neighborhood store to buy a soda (or of taking the empties back for their deposit, if you are a bit older), or stopping by the store after school to get a soda, or loading down the grocery cart with the weekly "six pack" or 'case" or "carton." Soda/pop really was "the stuff" of most of our childhood. Back then, no one gave much thought to the nutritional value of drinking soda. We just drank it.
WHAT WE KNOW TODAY ABOUT SOFT DRINKS
Soft drink consumption is the leading cause of obesity in the United States.
According to the National Soft Drink Association (NSDA), consumption of soft drinks is now over 600 12 ounce servings per year.
Since 1978 soda consumption in the US has tripled for boys and doubled for girls. Young males age 12-29 are the biggest consumer of over 160 gallons per year-that's almost 2 quarts per day. At these levels, the calories from soft drink contribute as much as 10 percent of the total daily caloric intake for a growing boy.
See, Global Healing Center, www.globalhealingcenter.com.
Some of the health problems associated with soft drink consumption include:
- High risk of obesity;
- Diabetes and other blood sugar disorders;
- Tooth decay (loss of enamel on the front teeth and yellowing);
- Osteoporosis;
- Bone fractures;
- Nutritional deficiencies;
- Heart disease;
- GI distress (increased stomach acid levels, seen often in teenagers);
- Food addictions and eating disorders;
- Neurotransmitter dysfunction from chemical sweeteners
- Neurological and adrenal disorders from excessive caffeine.
In "Sweetened Drinks Linked to Depression Risk," by Salynn Boyles, January 08, 2013, reviewed by Dr. Laura J. Martin, Boyles notes that a new study presented in March at the 65 Annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in San Diego, found that cutting down on sweetened drinks or replacing them entirely with non-sweetened beverages may help lower depression risk. They also found that those who consumed diet soda had an even higher risk of developing depression that those who drank regular soda:
The study included close to 264,000 people over the age of 50 enrolled in an AARP diet and health study.
When they entered the study, the participants were asked about their beverage-drinking habits as part of a detailed dietary survey. About 10 years later they were asked if they had been diagnosed with depression over the previous decade.
The analysis revealed that people who drank more than four cans or cups of diet soda a day had about a 30% higher risk of developing depression over the follow-up period than those who drank none. Those who drank regular soda had a 22% higher risk.
......
Drinking diet sweetened-beverages appeared to be associated with a slightly higher depression risk overall than drinking sugar-sweetened beverages.
"Sweetened Drinks Linked to Depression Risk," by Salynn Boyles, January 08, 2013, reviewed by Dr. Laura J. Martin, www.webmd.com.
The article also notes that more research is needed to confirm their findings. Doctors connected to the study warn that individuals who have been diagnosed with depression and on medication should continue to take all prescribed medication.
PUTTING AWAY HARMFUL THINGS
Today, let us each examine ourselves. Let us each examine our sweetened drink consumption. If we are drinking sodas, sugary drinks, diet drinks, chemically flavored drinks or other unhealthy or "less healthy" drinks, let's ask GOD to help us "to put them away." If anything is harming or hindering our physical or spiritual well-being and growth, let's ask GOD to help us "put those things away."
We don't have to wait for Communion Sunday to examine ourselves (See 1Cor. 11:28), we can put away harmful things every day!
May GOD give each of us the commitment and determination to live more abundantly* for HIM
and BE BLESSED!
*In John 10:10, JESUS said: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
