Soda Consumption

written by Hannah S.

    Teenagers often underestimate the negative effects of unhealthy food consumption, especially if they exercise. It is common knowledge that exercise is good for the body, so it is understandable that there exists the misconception that the positive aspects of exercise could displace the negative effects of popular fast foods or soft drinks. Studies show, however, that teenagers who exercise can be at equal, or in some cases, even at a greater risk.
    For example, carbonated beverages are one of the most commonly consumed drinks amongst the teenage population. Sodas can be harmful for all bodies, especially those that are still in the process of growth and maturation, and studies have long shown that soda pop places people at a greater risk for bone fractures and bone related diseases such as osteoporosis. Another recent study done through a questionnaire given to students in high school showed that physically active students who drank soda were five times as likely to have a bone fracture and students who were not physically active but drank soda were three times as likely to have a bone fracture compared to students who did not drink soda . Though physically active students may be at a greater risk for bone fractures because of the greater amount of physical exertion, it is important to note that soda consumption seems to affect bone strength. The consumption of soft drinks along with other factors such as the lack of proper nutrients contained in vegetables and fruits can lead to osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become more porous, fragile, and prone to breaking .
    The science behind these statistics is as follows. The acidic nature of the phosphoric acid in the carbonated drinks causes the body to pull important minerals in the bone out. Such minerals include calcium and are pulled out to buffer the acid. The loss of minerals is especially detrimental to the teenage population because between 40-60 % of peak bone mass is built up in the body during the teenage years. 
The point of this article is to remind every athlete that exercise alone cannot make one healthy if it is not supplemented with proper nutrition and wise decision making skills in regards to food choices.

Citations
  “Soda Consumption and Teenagers” http://www.fitnessandkids.com/art_dangers_of_soda.html
  “Soda Consumption and Teenagers” http://www.fitnessandkids.com/art_dangers_of_soda.html
  “Consuming Sodas Causes Osteoporosis in Teenagers” Discover Health and Fitness. http://www.health-doc.com/healtharticles/teenagersandsodas.html