Is drinking soda really that bad for you?

Read the low down on drinking soda. Great report from CNN News! Personally, I prefer Water.

Editor's note: Dr. Melina Jampolis, CNN's diet and fitness expert, is a physician nutrition specialist and the author of "The Calendar Diet: A Month by Month Guide to Losing Weight While Living Your Life."

(CNN) -- Q: I've heard so much about the dangers of drinking soda. Is it really all that bad for you? Or is it just empty calories?

You may have heard about a new study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Nutrition that found an increased risk of stroke in people who consumed more than one soda per day.

These findings are not surprising in light of the growing body of evidence linking intake of sugar sweetened beverages -- of which soda makes up the largest percentage -- and diseases such as......

read complete article here: http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/18/health/jampolis-dangers-drinking-soda/index.html

Sugared Drinks and Pancreatic Cancer Connection

Researchers tracked 60,524 subjects in Singapore over 14 years and found that those who drank two or more sodas a week had an 87% increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.  Mark Pereira of the University of Minnesota said that the high amount of sugar in the soda may be to blame, boosting the body's insulin levels which spurs cancer cell growth. Other experts warned that the study may be based on too few cases and other risk factors such as smoking may have contributed to the results.  The findings are published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 

I always knew there was a reason not to drink sugary soda pop!

Lifestyle Affects Cancer Risk

During February 2009, results of a joint American-British study concluded that 1/3 of most common cancer cases in the U.S. to be preventable by making healthy choices. Next to avoiding smoking, a healthy lifestyle is the most effective thing you can do to prevent cancer.

The American Institute for Cancer Research's recommendations for Cancer Prevention include:

• Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.
• Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.
• Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy dense foods (particularly processed foods high in added sugar or low in fiber, or high in fat).
• Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes such as beans.
• Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats.
• If consumed at all, limit daily alcoholic drinks to 2 for men and 1 for women.
• Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with salt (sodium).
• Don't use supplements to protect against cancer.

Special Population Recommendations:

• It is best for mothers to breastfeed exclusively for up to 6 months and then add other liquids and foods.
• After treatment, cancer survivors should follow the recommendations for cancer prevention.

And always remember - Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
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