A study of more than 300 girls in Hawaii found those who consumed enough dairy products in their diets could stay leaner than their peers. In addition, girls who had more calcium through dairy sources usually weighed less and had less body fat around their waists than those who ate fewer dairy products. Unfortunately, their body weight generally rose with their soft drink intake.
The connection between lower fat in their midsections and dairy intake was very strong among young Asian women, who accounted for almost half of the study group. A connection exists between soft drinks and milk consumption too: Milk consumption has fallen drastically in favor of sodas and sugar-flavored fruit drinks.
This trend toward sugar-laced drinks is believed to be one of the reasons the rate of childhood obesity has grown exponentially. Various studies have shown, however, calcium could be the factor in maintaining normal body weight and fat, perhaps due to this nutrient's effect on hormones that store calories as fat.
The key to the weight issue: Researchers found calcium from dairy sources, not non-dairy foods, was related to lower weights and less abdominal fat. Unfortunately, the girls who were surveyed also got relatively small amounts of calcium from non-dairy sources (broccoli, spinach and cereals and juices fortified with calcium), which may be too small for these foods to have an effect on body weight and fat.
Parents and their girls kept records of foods children ate for three days. Researchers discovered the girls' average calcium consumption fell very short of the daily level recommended for children for this age group by almost half. When girls did consume higher amounts of calcium, it made a difference on their waistlines, however.
Scientists also theorized the different eating habits of Asian girls over other races could have influenced the findings too.
Why replacing milk for soft drinks means a few extra pounds: Milk has a range of nutrients that are metabolized fairly slowly but soda, because it contains sugar, is quickly burned leading to a sugar surge, followed by a steep drop that spurs hunger.
Yahoo News August 11, 2004
Getting your nutrients from foods is a far healthier way to go. But there's one catch: The pasteurization process most producers use signifcantly diminishes, if not eliminates, most all of milk's nutritional benefits.
The pasteurization process, which entails heating milk to a temperature of 145 degrees to 150 degrees Fahrenheit and keeping it there for at least half an hour and then reducing the temperature to not more than 55 degrees Fahrenheit, completely changes the structure of the milk proteins (denaturization) into something far less than healthy. While the process certainly destroys germs and bad bacteria, it also destroys the milk's beneficial bacteria along with many of its nutritious components.
As far as the health benefits of soft drinks, there are none. In fact, soft drinks are one of the worst foods you can consume. A quick review of the main ingredients will tell you why:
Phosphoric Acid: This chemical may interfere with the body's ability to use calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis or softening of the teeth and bones. Sugar: Soft drink manufacturers are the largest single user of refined sugar in the United States. It is a proven fact that sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, premature aging and many more negative side effects. Aspartame: This chemical is used as a sugar substitute in diet soda. There are more than 92 different health side effects associated with aspartame consumption including brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders and epilispsy/seizures. Caffeine: Caffeinated drinks cause jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, vitamin and mineral depletion, breast lumps, birth defects, and perhaps some forms of cancer. Tap Water: I recommend that everyone avoid drinking tap water because it can carry any number of chemicals including chlorine, trihalomethanes, lead, cadmium, and various organic pollutants.
Phosphoric Acid: This chemical may interfere with the body's ability to use calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis or softening of the teeth and bones.
Sugar: Soft drink manufacturers are the largest single user of refined sugar in the United States. It is a proven fact that sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, premature aging and many more negative side effects.
Aspartame: This chemical is used as a sugar substitute in diet soda. There are more than 92 different health side effects associated with aspartame consumption including brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders and epilispsy/seizures.
Caffeine: Caffeinated drinks cause jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, vitamin and mineral depletion, breast lumps, birth defects, and perhaps some forms of cancer.
Tap Water: I recommend that everyone avoid drinking tap water because it can carry any number of chemicals including chlorine, trihalomethanes, lead, cadmium, and various organic pollutants.
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