In an effort to battle youth obesity, Philadelphia school officials banned the sale of carbonated soft drinks in city schools.
Beginning in July, the available selection from most of the district’s 740 vending machines and cafeterias will be milk, water, fruit juices and the occasional sports drinks. School officials are hoping this policy will be effective in supporting the school district’s core mission, which centers on doing everything they can to keep their students safe and healthy.
Eliminating soft drinks to fight obesity was a recommendation to the 214,000-student district given by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The district is predicting a $500,000 a year loss in soda sales from the vending machines. Sports drinks, which also contain a lot of sugar, will be limited to high school vending machines. Sodas will continue to be sold in faculty cafeterias. The National Soft Drink Association, which represents most soft-drink makers nationwide, expressed that they have concerns about obesity, yet don’t feel a total ban on soda is necessary. CNN.com February 5, 2004
I want you to first consider these disturbing statistics on soda:
Now ask yourself, is there any reason my kids should be drinking soda? The answer is absolutely not and no excuses.
Soda is one of the main nutritional reasons why most people suffer from health problems. Schools have been peddling junk food to kids for some time now. Many of them are taking in millions of dollars from contracts with these companies and are essentially exchanging the health of the kids at their schools for money. Soda is one of the five worst foods that you could possibly give to your children. It is full of dangers.
If a child drinks all of that sugar, their appetite is then relatively suppressed for nourishing foods like vegetables, which results in nutritional deficiencies. This is independent of all the damage that sugar can do.
If you are thinking my kids are OK because they drink diet soda, think again. Diet soda contains aspartame, which is far worse for you.
Our bodies need about one quart of water for every 50 pounds of body weight and soda, juice or milk do not count toward this requirement. In fact, it is very sad to read that the leading source of vitamins and minerals in children’s diets comes from juice and milk, both of which should be avoided in a diet for optimal health.
If you have any opportunity to be active in your school community please take heed of what is possible from the Philadelphia experience. Folks, we CAN make a difference!
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