Soda's Slippery Slope

It's not like it'll kill ya...right?

In a recent New York Times article, Mark Bittman, otherwise known as "The Minimalist," draws some scary parallels between the big guys pushing sugar-laden juices and sodas and the tobacco industry of several decades ago. Think marketing to children, making dubious health claims, lots of lobbying power in their corner...sound familiar?

The soda industry claims that moderate amounts of soda are fine, but moderation is not really America's strong point at the moment. Bittman cites the average soda consumption at 50 gallons per person, per year. 50!

While studies continue to link increased soda consumption to growing diabetes and childhood obesity rates, and while the industry continues to refute these studies, saying that other lifestyle factors are the main cause for disease, let's step back a sec and take off our scientist hats and put on our common sense caps:

Which body is going to be happier and healthier over a year? One that has to process 50 gallons of high fructose corn syrup-laden goop or one that gets 50 gallons of water?

The latter option is also, of course, cheaper. We love it when things work out that way.

Better than a sugar high, and without the crash! »