Soda Should Be Banned

Emily Parrish
Russell
English 1105
12 December 2012
Soda Sizes Michael Bloomberg, New York’s mayor, has addressed the issue of obesity by banning the sale of soda and other sugary drinks over sixteen ounces in movie theaters, restaurants, stadiums, and street carts. As of March 2013 if this ban is violated, the vendor would face a two hundred dollar fine. The ban is a great idea. Regulating soda sizes exerts control over obesity and is a proactive move to help reduce osteoporosis. Increasing obesity rates and a rise in health issues has shown that the average American citizen is unable make healthy choices on their own. Government intervention is necessary because American citizens are making poor health choices. Jamie Oliver,
Soda is to bones as cigarettes are to lungs - both cause long-term issues. Drinking soda can be linked to osteoporosis, which is a common bone disorder that makes bones weak and brittle (McGrath). People with osteoporosis are more prone to broken and fractured bones. Many people have replaced their daily glass of milk or orange juice, which provides calcium to the body, with a soda, which is high in caffeine and phosphoric acid. Soda essentially leeches nutrients out of bones causing them to become weak. It does this through an imbalance of phosphoric acid and calcium. Phosphorus is an important bone mineral that works with calcium in order to build strong bones and teeth (Ehrlich). When there is a phosphorus deficiency one can experience symptoms such as loss of appetite, anxiety, bone pain, fragile bones, stiff joints, fatigue, irregular breathing, irritability, numbness, weakness, and weight change (Ehrlich). Several studies have shown that higher intakes of phosphorus are associated with an increased risk in cardiovascular disease as well. Researchers at Tuft’s University studied multiple men and women and the effects of cola based soda products on their health. They found that women who drank three to four cola based sodas a day had about four percent lower bone density in the hip even though calcium was regulated. However, women who drank non-cola based soda, like Sprite of Mountain Dew, did not have a loss in bone density (Feature). This does not imply that Sprite and Mountain Dew sodas are okay though because they are still both very high is sugar and Mountain Dew is very high in caffeine. Caffeine is a diuretic, or increases the production of urine, and can cause an increase in calcium loss in urine (McGrath). For every 150 milligrams of caffeine, about five milligrams of calcium are lost through urine. This