I Suspect the Science is There

Just not the priority–and the cash infusion that goes with it.  I know I’ve mentioned this before, but it is really upsetting and I think it’s worth another mention. Soda.

PS–Dear readers, I try to vary the topics of my posts so keep things interesting.  Also to keep all my followers happy–as I do not know what type of post made you click “follow” in the first place.  And I realize I’ve been posting about food/weight/and dysphagia a LOT lately.  And I do have some veterinary/work/gay/different posts in the works.  Except–they are in stages of completion.  I’m tired after being at work about 10 hours today, I have to work again tomorrow morning (and want to be functional to study and Wii in the early morning), and Cool wants to go to bed and read right now.  So yeah–here is more “complaining” about writing, I guess.  So I’m sorry if this feels redundant, but it’s the only draft semi-ready to post.  I’ll try to hustle along with the others. . .

Back to the post:

What IS soda anyway?  As far as I know it’s a syrupy base with carbonation and some salt (too much) and sugar for taste.  Plus some artificial colors and maybe fillers of some sort.  There is no nutritional value in the beverage.  Please, if I’m missing something here, let me know.

I don’t like to drink soda.  First let me preface with that.  I don’t like that the huge companies are unscrupulous in their marketing (to children and minorities).  And I don’t like that the drink contributes to the obesity epidemic.  Like we need any MORE help getting fat?  I especially dislike their lobbying tactics and the way they get around the normal (and practical!) rules.  By throwing money at government.  This impedes my sense of fairness.

Also, (even diet!) soda is bad for your teeth.  Drinking straight-sugar is obviously not a great idea, consuming an overabundance of empty calories = not smart, and ALL soda changes the pH in your mouth to promote tooth decay.  And it’s staining to the teeth.  Having had so much money invested into my mouth:  3+ years metal braces, 8+ years retainer, skin graft for receeding gum-line, 3 years Invisalign, wisdom teeth removal, lifetime Invisalign retainer, I want to protect my mouth as much as possible.

BUT  soda is available.  You can get it practically anywhere.  It is cheap.  Cheaper to buy then most every other beverage.  It comes in large quantities.  And, my number one impediment for cutting soda out of my life entirely–diet soda has ZERO calories.  Try to mix juice in a cocktail–lots of empty calories.  Drinking beer while watching your figure is impossible.  So I keep going back to Diet Pepsi as a mixer.  Though I’m ethically opposed to it.

This makes me want to know why Limeade has 60 calories/serving, yet hardly any nutritional value.  Tea–calories.  Coffee–calories.  Why can’t the other beverage people either sock that serving so full of healthful ingredients that at least it takes care of one of my nutrient requirements for the day–or even better, eliminate calories like the soda companies have done?

I think it has to do with where the research money is going–and it’s not to benefit human nutrition.  It’s to benefit large beverage corporations and their sneaky advertising.

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• Diet Soda, A Good Nutritional Replacement For Regular Soda?
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• What is really in that diet soda? DIET MYTH OR BUST?