DIET COLA IS IT MAKING YOU FAT AS WELL AS DAMAGING YOUR TEETH AND SKIN?

Very interesting article I came across in the Daily Mail. It's not something I really drink much of at all as I knew the acid attacks the tooth enamel but this article has some interesting findings

Why diet cola could be making you FATTER and WRINKLIER: Low-calorie drink could be to blame for spare tyre and withered skin

Diet colas have long been regarded as the dieter's friend - but one-calorie fizzy drinks may actually be the reason you can't shift that stubborn spare tyre.
Some health experts now believe the chemicals in the drink could actually be causing your body to lay down fat deposits around your middle - dubbed 'diet cola belly' - reports Get The Gloss. 

And that's not all: some experts also believe diet cola’s mix of carbonated water, colourings and sweeteners such as aspartame and acesulfame K could also speed up the ageing process, and have disastrous health consequences.

Diet cola is NOT going to help you lose weight, say health experts - and it could even cause wrinkles

Hoards of nutritionists and scientists now claim diet cola’s image as a 'healthy' alternative to the nine-teaspoons-of sugar, regular variety of the fizzy drink is wholly misplaced.

WEIGHT
The fructose, artificial sweeteners, and sugar alcohols (another type of low-calorie sweetener) present in diet colas can all interfere with natural gut bacteria, according to Amanda Payne of Switzerland’s Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health which published a paper in the journal Obesity Reviews.

Diet cola could be causing fat deposits around your middle, say health experts 

This messes up your metabolism and disrupts the body’s way of signaling to you that you’re full and satisfied.

As a consequence, the body pumps out insulin, the hormone that controls sugar levels and fat storage, so that you lay down what Toribio-Mateas calls 'diet cola belly in the form of more fat around the midriff' - just where you wanted to shed fat.
In addition to this: 'The fake sugars in the drink are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar and trick your brain into thinking real sugar is on the way,' says Toribio-Mateas. 'When the calories don’t arrive, it triggers a cascading effect that interferes with hunger signals, blood sugar levels and satiety.'

AGEING
Amanda Griggs, director of health and nutrition at the Balance Clinic in London, says: 'phosphoric acid, the ingredient that gives diet cola its appealing tangy taste and the tingle you get when it is swallowed, can cause a host of problems'. 

According to one, study, published in a 2010 issue of the FASEB Journal, it can even accelerate the ageing process. 

It found that the excessive phosphate levels found in sodas caused lab rats to die a full five weeks earlier than the rats whose diets had more normal phosphate levels.

The excessive phosphate levels found in sodas caused lab rats to die a full five weeks earlier than the rats whose diets had more normal phosphate levels

Phosphoric acid has also been linked to lower bone density in some studies, including a discussion in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

In experiments at Harvard University, the mineral was found to make skin and muscles wither and to damage the heart and kidneys over time. 

However, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a consumer watchdog group not affiliated with the food industry, only a small fraction of the phosphate in diets comes from additives in soft drinks. Most comes from meat and dairy products. 

TEETH

The phosphoric acid in cola drinks erodes away tooth enamel, and the coloring makes the root go dark brown

Sian Porter, spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association says diet colas may lack sugar, but the acidic nature of artificially sweetened fizzy varieties means they still attack tooth enamel. 

'It’s not just the sugary drinks that are causing teeth problems,' says Porter. 'Sugar raises the risk of decay, but diet drinks are equally acidic and can cause erosion in the same way.'

HEALTH
It has also been shown to raise the risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure by some researchers. To add to the dire news for diet cola fans, results of a ten-year study found a link with cardiovascular disease among those who drank it every day; cola drinkers were found to be 43 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack during a ten-year period than those who abstained.

Other studies have shown that the phosphorus released from phosphoric acid in just two fizzy drinks a week can cause calcium to be leached from bones, raising the risk of osteoporosis.

Cola (both diet and regular varieties) seems particularly damaging to the skeleton. Typically, a can of diet cola contains 44-62mg of phosphoric acid - more than in many other soft drinks - and researchers at Tufts University in Boston showed that women who regularly drank three or more cans a day had four per cent lower bone mineral density in their hips compared to those who preferred other soft drinks.

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OBESITY AND SWEET DRINKS

The following article below is from Yahoo Lifestyle. I am surprised a study was necessary. For years I have observed the trolleys of obese people in supermarkets and have noted their trolleys crammed high with sugary drinks, bags of crisps, biscuits, and other high fat and sweet things. The vast majority of these trolleys contain little or no fruit and vegetables nor wholegrain bread etc. Sugar is highly addictive when ingested it gives a huge buzz and surge of energy and very quickly drops leading to more cravings. This does the pancreas no favours at all for to combat the increase sugar the pancreas has to produce enough insulin to deal with all this sugar in the blood. It is one of the causes of Type 2 Diabetes. But as well as all this sugar these drinks contain additives some are very acidic which damages the enamel of the teeth, some additives such as sunset yellow (colouring) are known to create hyperactivity in children, sadly these sugary drinks are often given to children as a way of keeping them quiet rather than spending time with them.

I'm not saying we should ban fizzy drinks but these should be limited and can safely be included in a well balanced diet but certainly not to the excess as some people have become accustomed.

*************************************

Three new studies published in the United States this weekend reaffirm a link between sweet soda and fruit drinks to an epidemic of obesity that is sweeping the US.

Consumption of these drinks has more than doubled since the 1970s, and the rate of obesity among Americans during the same period reached 30% of the adult population, said the authors of a study published online by the New England Journal of Medicine.

The first study, which involved more than 33,000 American men and women, showed that drinking sugary drinks was affecting genes that regulate weight and increased the genetic of a person to gain weight.

The researchers used 32 variations of genes known to affect the weight to establish a genetic profile of the participants. They also determined the participants' eating habits, their consumption of sweetened beverages and exercise practices.

The other two studies showed that giving to children and adolescents calorie-free drinks like mineral water or soft drinks sweetened with artificial sweeteners resulted in weight loss.

The first was conducted at Children's Hospital Boston, which examined 224 overweight adolescents who were encouraged to consume water or light sodas for a year.

These teens gained only 0.68 kilograms of weight during this period compared to 1.5 kilograms in another group that consumed sugary drinks.

Yet another study was conducted by researchers at the VU University Amsterdam (the Netherlands) and involved 641 children aged 4 to 11.

Half of the group drank sweet and fruity drinks while the other half the same drinks with sugarless sweeteners.

After 18 months, children who consumed the low-calorie drinks gained 6.39 kilograms on average compared to 7.36 kilograms in the group that drank sugary fruit drinks.

"Taken together, these three studies suggest that calories from sugar-sweetened beverages do matter," said Doctor Sonia Caprio of Yale University writing in the New England Journal of Medicine.

"These randomized, controlled studies ... provide a strong impetus to develop recommendations and policy decisions to limit consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, especially those served at low cost and in excessive portions, to attempt to reverse the increase in childhood obesity," she added.

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A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF CHOCOLATE WHICH I FEEL IS FLAWED

Another feature on chocolate albeit this is a negative one. We already know that chocolate makes us feel better especially in women and most women if truthful will tell you when they feel down they will reach for chocolate. However I still feel chocolate does have good health benefits, I am referring to dark chocolate here for one ounce of dark chocolate does give us our daily iron requirements as well as being rich in flavonoids which are anti oxidants. I do feel this article is somewhat misleading however and confusing because I feel its confusing the milk and sweet variety of chocolate bars, these are more associated with  the overweight and obesity. 

The experiment detailed below where they fed 'M&Ms' to rats, these are milk chocolate and sugar coated with added colouring agents. Any nutritionist will tell you what refined sugar does, whereby it creates sugar highs and lows and the low sugar levels lead to cravings. If you eat refined sugars milk chocolate bars, cakes and biscuits this leads to a huge surge in blood sugar levels giving an instant hit and surge of energy, however this surge does not last long and drops dramatically leading to craving for more and I feel this is what has happened with this experiment. 

French women are well known for their slim figures and they eat chocolate regularly however its small amounts of good plain chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa solids, this is satisfying and does not lead to the craving associated by consuming milk chocolate confectionary.

Chocolate can create same high as opium: Links found between obese people and drug addicts

• Study looked at natural brain chemical of enkephalin
• It's an endorphin with similar properties to opium
• US researchers found it surged as rats ate M&Ms
• Drug then stimulated brain area releasing chemical
• After that, number of M&Ms eaten more than doubled

It’s certainly a good excuse to have when you’re slumped on the sofa and feel like you're simply obliged to finish off that shiny tin of Quality Street.

Chocolate has an effect on the brain similar to opium, according to a study that found amazing comparisons between obese people and drug addicts.

In the study, a natural brain chemical called enkephalin - an endorphin with similar properties to opium - surged as rats began to eat M&M chocolates.

Addictive: Chocolate has an effect on the brain similar to opium, according to a study that found comparisons between obese people and drug addicts

When a drug was used to stimulate the dorsal neostriatum - the brain area releasing the chemical - the number of M&Ms eaten more than doubled.

In the brain, enkephalin binds to molecular ‘receptors’ sensitive to opiate chemicals to reduce pain and produce pleasurable feelings.

Previous research mostly linked the dorsal neostriatum to movement, and recent work suggested it also plays a role in reward-driven behaviour.

But study leader Dr Alexandra DiFeliceantonio said the extraordinary findings showed comparisons between and drug addicts and the obese.

Opium links: The researchers looked at the same brain area which is active when obese people see foods and when drug addicts see drug scenes

She said: ‘This (study) means that the brain has more extensive systems to make individuals over-consume rewards than previously thought.

'The same brain area tested here is active when obese people see foods and when drug addicts see drug scenes'

Dr Alexandra DiFeliceantonio

‘The same brain area tested here is active when obese people see foods and when drug addicts see drug scenes.

‘It seems likely that our enkephalin findings in rats mean that this neurotransmitter may drive some forms of overconsumption and addiction in people.’

The findings of the University of Michigan researcher and her team have been published in the US journal Current Biology.

In their paper, the scientists concluded: ‘Opioid circuitry... could in this way participate in normal motivations and perhaps even in generating intense pathological levels of motivation to overconsume reward in binge eating disorders, drug addiction and related compulsive pursuits.’

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ANTIBIOTICS LINKS TO OBESITY FROM FARMERS FATTENING UP LIVESTOCK

Article from the Daily Mail Below and something that annoys me, the overuse of Antibiotics. At least doctors in the UK have tightened up their prescribing of antibiotics. Antibiotics are marvellous drugs and have saved countless lives, trouble is they are over used and in the story below given to animals to fatten them up, this is so wrong. Think about it, if you eat the meat from animals given antibiotics it stands to reason you will be ingesting the very same, overuse of antibiotics leads to sensitivity. I'm not saying animals shouldn't receive antibiotics is they are ill, if they are genuinely ill with a bacterial illness they of course they should be treated but not consumed until that antibiotic has left their system. I am not advocating  becoming a vegetarian either, but I do think we should chose our supplier carefully and eat organically raised animals. I am glad to see that the EU has banned this practice. 

Many pharmacies worldwide (NOT the UK) sell antibiotics to the public I believe this is so wrong and should only be prescribed by a doctor as too many people ingest these when more often than not they have a viral illness, in which case antibiotics will have no effect as they only have an effect on bacteria. Many others do not finish their course of treatment too, this then merely weakens the bacteria instead of eradicating it and gives the bacteria a chance to overcome the antibiotic and develop new strains that are unaffected by bacteria which has led to the massive problems we have today with MRSA. 

When I was a young nurse and had to give a patient an antibiotic injection we had to 'gown up' wear masks and gloves when drawing up the antibiotic into the syringe to prevent sensitivity as minute droplets could enter the atmosphere when expelling air from the hypodermic syringe. We treated antibiotics with respect I don't believe this practice is still carried out today.

I do feel we should condemn this practice of giving antibiotics routinely to animals simply to plump up livestock and treat antibiotics with respect or there may come a time (and it's already happening) when we no longer have effective antibiotics at all. It should worry us all for do we want to go back to the time when a simple prick from a rose thorn could lead to septicaemia?

After reading the story below you might wish to consider this

http://www.quorn.co.uk/why-quorn/

'Farmers behind fat epidemic': Study finds links between obesity and antibiotics used to plump up livestock

• Farmers have used non-therapeutic doses to increase weight of cows and pigs
• Exposure to medicine may impair children's metabolic development

Farmers may have fuelled the obesity epidemic by fattening up livestock using antibiotics, a study has discovered.
Researchers found evidence that low exposure to the drugs upsets the delicate balance of gut bacteria which in turn alters metabolism.
The findings indicate a possible link between rising rates of obesity and modern farming methods.

EU farmers are banned from using antibiotics to fatten up their cows as a study shows that the drugs are linked with obesity levels

Since the 1950s, farmers have used low non-therapeutic doses of antibiotics to increase the body weight of cows, sheep, pigs and chickens.
The practice has sparked fears of spreading antibiotic resistance as the drugs get into the food chain, leading to a tightening of the rules.
Using antibiotics to fatten up farm animals is now banned in the EU but still allowed in the US and other countries.

The new research suggests antibiotic use on farms may pose other risks besides breeding resistant super bugs.

Exposure to the medicines may seriously impair the metabolic development of children

Exposure to the medicines may seriously impair the metabolic development of children, setting them up for a lifetime struggle with their weight.
As well as being exposed to antibiotics indirectly through the food chain, children are commonly given the drugs to treat minor ailments.
In the US, the average child now receives one antibiotic course per year.
'The rise of obesity around the world is coincident with widespread antibiotic use, and our studies provide an experimental linkage,' said lead researcher Professor Martin Blaser, from New York University School of Medicine in the US.
'It is possible that early exposure to antibiotics primes children for obesity later in life.'
The scientists administered common antibiotics such as penicillin and vancomycin to weaning mice at similar doses as those used in agriculture.
The treatment altered the composition of gut bacteria in the mice which in turn led to metabolic changes, such as increased production of fatty acids. After about six weeks the mice had gained about 10 per cent to 15 per cent more fat mass than untreated mice.
'By using antibiotics, we found we can actually manipulate the population of bacteria and alter how they metabolise certain nutrients,' said co-author Dr Ilseung Cho, also from New York University.
'Ultimately, we were able to affect body composition and development in young mice by changing their gut microbiome through this exposure.'
The findings are published today in the journal Nature.
Although it was known that antibiotics could fatten up animals, previously the mechanism involved was unclear.
Commenting on the results, British expert Professor Brendan Wren, form the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: 'The role of the composition of our gut microflora is increasingly recognised as being important and has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic disorders, immunity and obesity.
'It has been considered as the forgotten super organ in humans, and it is only now through advances in genome sequencing that we can assess the composition of the complex population of microbes in the gut.
'Indiscriminate use of antibiotics for livestock (often used to fatten animals), not only promotes the spread of antibiotic resistance, but can get in our food chain and affect the homeostasis of our gut microflora.'
Dr Cormac Gahan, from University College Cork in the Irish Republic, said: 'These studies support an emerging body of evidence linking gut bacteria with the development of obesity.
'Other research has identified specific subgroups of gut bacteria that play a role in energy extraction from the diet and influence the production of hormones in the host.
'Disrupting this finely balanced ecosystem clearly has consequences for host metabolism and weight gain.'

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FIZZY DRINKS LEADING BIOLOGIST SAYS THEY ARE EVIL, READ THE REPORT

I don't drink much in the way of soft drinks preferring water and the odd glass of fruit juice as I've never liked being bloated by carbonated drinks and it's not just the sugar versions even the calorie free ones are very acidic and bad for dental health. If you have ever tried to dip a tarnished copper coin into some cola drink and you see the visible effects it stands to reason what must it do to tooth enamel. However from this report there are new worries to consider.

Article from the Daily mail below

Having seen the evidence, I don't touch fizzy drinks any more. Frankly they're evil, says leading biologist

• Consumption of soft drinks has more than doubled since 1985 - from ten gallons per person a year to more than 25 gallons
• Sugary drinks lead to alterations in muscles similar to those in people with obesity problems and type 2 diabetes

Biological scientist Dr Hans-Peter Kubis, who's just led a study into what soft drinks do to our bodies, has reached some shocking conclusions. When you read what he discovered, you may well choose never to touch the fizzy stuff again.

Fizzy drinks appear to increase the risk of heart disease, liver failure and hypertension

Once upon a time, fizzy drinks were an occasional luxury treat. 

Now, many of us think nothing of having at least one every day — maybe a lunchtime can of cola or a ‘natural’ lemonade from Pret. 

We use them as instant pick-me-ups, and even as ‘healthy’ sports aids bought from vending machines at the gym. 

No trip to the cinema is complete without a supersize soft drink, either.

It’s no surprise to learn, then, that our consumption of soft drinks has more than doubled since 1985 — from ten gallons per person a year to more than 25 gallons.

We know this is not entirely good for us — but could sugary soft drinks be so dangerous that they should carry health warnings? 

This may sound alarmist, but new medical studies are have produced worrying results.

Even moderate consumption — a can a day, or just two a week — may alter our metabolism so that we pile on weight.

The drinks also appear to increase the risk of heart disease, liver failure and hypertension. 

In children, soft drinks have been linked to addict-like cravings, as well as twisting kids’ appetites so they hunger for junk food.

Already, countries such as Denmark and France are introducing soft-drink taxes to cut consumption. 

In the U.S., around 100 medical and consumer organisations are now calling on the Surgeon-General to investigate the health effects of soda and other sugary drinks. 

Should we in Britain follow suit? 

Sugary soft drinks come in numerous guises — from ‘innocuous’ fizzy elderflower to ‘health’ drinks such as Lucozade and ‘sports’ beverages like Gatorade.

Last year, we swallowed an astounding 14,585 million litres of soft drinks, an increase of more than 4 per cent in 12 months, according to the British Soft Drinks Association. 

Our spending rose by nearly 6 per cent to £13,880 million in 2010 — the fastest growth in the past seven years. 

We clearly like our soft drinks. But the medical evidence is stacking up against them.

Last week, a study suggested they can cause weight gain and long-term health problems if drunk every day for as little as a month.

   

The research, by Bangor University and published in the European Journal Of Nutrition, reported that soft drinks actually alter metabolism, so that our muscles use sugar for energy instead of burning fat.
It seems that exposure to liquid sugar causes genes in our muscles to change their behaviour, perhaps permanently.
Not only do we pile on weight, but our metabolism becomes less efficient and less able to cope with rises in blood sugar, say the researchers.
This, in turn, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

‘Having seen all the medical evidence, I don’t touch soft drinks now,’ says Dr Hans-Peter Kubis, a biological scientist and expert in exercise nutrition who led the research.

'I think drinks with added sugar are, frankly, evil.’
In fact, the Bangor study is only the latest in a long line of reports warning of the link between soft drinks and serious health problems.
A study in March, for example, warned that men who drink a standard 12oz can of sugar-sweetened beverage every day have a 20 per cent higher risk of heart disease compared to men who don’t drink any sugar-sweetened drinks.
The research published in the American Heart Association’s journal, Circulation, followed more than 42,000 men for 22 years.
Blood tests found soft-drink fans had higher levels of harmful inflammation in their blood vessels, and lower levels of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol.

Energy drinks such as Red Bull have boomed in popularity in the past ten years. The regular version contains seven teaspoons of sugar per 250ml

The study suggested this may be a result of the sugar rush these soft drinks cause.
This increased sudden sugar load on the body may also explain research which found just two carbonated drinks (330ml each) every week appears to double the risk of pancreatic cancer, reported the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.
Meanwhile, soft drinks with high levels of fruit juice may cause severe long-term liver damage, according to an Israeli study.
People who drank two cans of these drinks a day were five times more likely to develop fatty liver disease — a precursor to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Dr Hans-Peter Kubis says he no longer touches soft drinks after his research

In the Journal of Hepatology, the lead investigator, Dr Nimer Assy, warned high levels of fructose fruit sugar in the drinks can overwhelm the liver, leading it to accumulate fat.

Perhaps most disturbing is the picture emerging from various studies that suggest sugary drinks expose children to a perfect storm of obesity threats.

Four years ago, researchers at University College London’s Health Behaviour Research Centre discovered a powerful — and lucrative  — effect sugary soft drinks have on youngsters. 

The study of 346 children aged around 11 found drinking soft drinks makes them want to drink more often, even when they’re not actually thirsty — and that their preference is for more sugary drinks. 

Children who drank water or fruit juice in the tests didn’t show this unnecessary need to drink. 

The researchers expressed concern that this may set the children’s habits for life — in particular, giving them an ‘increased preference for sweet things in the mouth’, without compensating for the extra calories by eating less food.

More recent research suggests fizzy drinks may sway children’s tastes towards high-calorie, high-salt food. 

Part of this worrying phenomenon was revealed earlier this year by Oregon University investigators. 

Their study of 75 children aged between three and five found those given sugary soft drinks avoided eating raw vegetables such as carrots or red peppers, but went for foods high in calories, such as chips. 

This did not happen when the children were given water to drink. 

The researchers said this wasn’t about simple fussiness. Instead, our tastes for food and drink seem to be shaped in a like-with-like manner. 

This discovery comes on top of an earlier finding, by heart experts at St George’s, University of London, that children and teenagers who consume sugary soft drinks are far more likely to prefer foods high in salt. 

Dr Kubis believes that liquid sugars not only alter our bodies, but also foster addict-like responses. 

‘The body absorbs liquid sugars so much faster because they are more easily taken into the stomach lining, and this rapid intake fires up the body’s pleasure responses,’ he says.

Coca-Cola in the U.S. has reduced levels of one of its ingredients following fears that it could cause cancer

‘At the same time, your brain reduces its desire for the taste of nutrients such as vitamins or minerals,’ says Dr Kubis. This is what makes these sugary drinks so habit-forming.

‘There is a huge overlap between what is addictive behaviour with drugs and the use of sweet food,’ he adds. 

‘In lab experiments, even rats who have been made addicted to cocaine will prefer to have a sugary drink instead of cocaine.’ 

He says sugary drink habits aren’t necessarily an addiction ‘because not all of us suffer withdrawal symptoms when we cut out sugary drinks’. 

The story may be different with children, however. ‘With children, there is more evidence of addictive behaviour,’ Dr Kubis says. 

‘You get tantrums, restlessness  and distress if you stop their soft-drink consumption.’

This may be because children’s developing brains are more prone to developing sugar cravings, or because children’s desires are simply more transparent.

Sadly, there’s little point shifting from sugary soft drinks to ‘healthy alternatives’ such as fizzy real-fruit lemonades or fruit-juice drinks, says Dr Kubis, because the liquid sugar problem still remains.

‘Posh soft drinks with real fruit might be marketed as healthy, but this may be rather cynical, as such drinks can be just as dangerous,’ he explains, adding that some fruit drinks contain more sugar than a can of fizz.

SUGAR: THE BIGGEST DANGER HIDDEN IN A CAN OF COKE

Doctors are in no doubt - the biggest danger from cola doesn’t come from the hidden additives, flavourings  or colourings, but from sugar.
Too much sugar leads to obesity, the major cause of cancer in the western world.
It also increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, causes heart disease and increases the risk of stroke.
The over-consumption of sugar has been linked to depression, poor memory formation and learning disorders in animal experiments. And it rots teeth.
Each regular can of  cola contains eight teaspoons of sugar. When you drink that much sugar so quickly, the body experiences an intense sugar rush.
The cane and beet  sugar used in Coca-Cola is used up quickly by the body,  which soon experiences a  rapid drop  in energy, leading to cravings for more sugar.

    
Even when it comes to ‘healthy’ sports drinks, the evidence is that they’re not only a waste of money, because you don’t need them, but they could also be harmful. 

An investigation by the universities of Oxford and Harvard warned that popular brands such as Lucozade and Powerade contain large amounts of sugar and calories which encourage weight gain, the British Medical Journal reported earlier this month.

On top of all this is the damage fizzy drinks can wreak on teeth. A study in the journal General Dentistry in June found that cola is ten times as corrosive as fruit juice in the first three minutes of drinking. 

One of the chief culprits is citric acid, which gives tangy drinks their kick.

Diet Coke has no sugar - but still contains chemicals that can rot the teeth

A study in the British Dental Journal found four cans of fizzy drink a day increased the risk of tooth erosion by 252 per cent.

The drinks industry, of course, has spent countless millions of pounds bombarding us with sophisticated and expensive marketing in order to weld their products in  our minds to images of healthiness and fun.

Few who lined the streets of Britain for the Olympic torch procession could have failed to notice the role of Coca-Cola.

The company paid more than £100 million for the exclusive rights to be the official provider of soft drinks at the Games. 

The late Coca-Cola chief executive, Roberto Guizueta, said: ‘Eventually, the number-one beverage on Earth will not be tea or coffee or wine or beer. It will be soft drinks — our soft drinks.’

Today, however, there is a growing backlash against soft drinks.

Earlier this month, a group of leading health organisations, including the American Cancer Association, the American Diabetes Association, Yale University’s Rudd Centre for Food Policy and Obesity, and the American Heart Association, called on the U.S. Surgeon-General to investigate the health effects of soda and other sugary drinks.

Soft drinks play a major role in the U.S.’s obesity crisis, the campaigners say, and they want a study into them similar in scale and impact to the Surgeon-General’s landmark report on the dangers of smoking in 1964. 

Kathleen Sebelius, the former Governor of Kansas, who campaigns on behalf of the American Cancer Society, declared: ‘An unbiased and comprehensive report on the impact of sugar-sweetened beverages could . . . perhaps begin to change the direction of public behaviour in their choices of food and drinks.’

Legislators are already starting to act. In May, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, announced a ban on serving cartons bigger than 16oz (a pint). 

Last year, the Hungarian government imposed a tax on unhealthy drinks and foods.

CITRIC ACID: HELPING FIZZY DRINKS ROT YOUR TEETH

Citric acid gives lemons, oranges and grapefruit their kick and cola its bite, helping to make the drink nearly as corrosive as battery acid when it comes to teeth.
Prolonged exposure to cola and other fizzy drinks strips tooth enamel causing pain, ugly smiles and — in extreme cases — turning teeth to stumps.
A study in the journal General Dentistry found that cola is ten times as corrosive as fruit juices in the first three minutes of drinking.
The researchers took slices of freshly extracted teeth and immersed them in 20 soft drinks. Teeth dunked for 48 hours in cola and lemonade lost more than five per cent of their weight.
A study in the British Dental Journal found that just one can of fizzy drink a day increased the risk of tooth erosion. While four cans increased the erosion risk by  252 per cent.

   
And, earlier this year, France imposed a tax on sugary soft drinks after a study found that more than 20 million of its citizens are overweight.

Health campaigners here are pressing for a similar tax. Researchers at Oxford University calculate that a 20 per cent tax on soft drinks would reduce obesity and overweight in Britain by 1 per cent — roughly 400,000 cases across Britain. 

‘We don’t get anything like that  level of success from trying to educate people about healthy eating,’ says researcher Dr Mike Rayner.

‘I am not suggesting that people should never have soft drinks,’ he stresses. ‘I myself like drinking them. But they really should be restricted to weekends and  holiday treats.’

Understandably, the idea of a tax has met stiff opposition from the British Soft Drinks Association.

Its spokesman, Richard Laming, argues that ‘soft drinks, like any other food or drink, can be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet, and there is no reason to tax them’.

On top of that, he says, UK soft drink manufacturers are producing more low-sugar products. 

‘About half of the soft drinks market in the UK is made up of reduced or zero calorie drinks nowadays.’

Nor is Mr Laming impressed by last week’s Bangor University findings. 

‘The study lasted only four weeks and had only a tiny sample size of just 11 people. That is no basis on which to make claims about effects that last a lifetime.’

Dr Kubis acknowledges the study’s limitations and says that he is working to produce a much larger trial to see if the findings are confirmed in people who start consuming large amounts of sugary soda. 

In this, he faces one significant problem.

‘It is difficult to find young people who have not previously been exposed to a lot of soft drinks,’ he laments.

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CHEMICALS IN COSMETICS LINKED TO OBESITY?

Story below is from the Daily Mail.

I honestly don't know where they get these stories 

FACT: Cosmetics, ie. make-up, fake tan CANNOT pass through the skin it's impossible if this was the case they would no longer be licensed as cosmetics but would have to be licensed as medication.

FACT: Only medications, e.g. topical steroids, patch delivered such as HRT etc. and essential oils can permeate the skin.

FACT: Obesity is caused by taking in too much fuel i.e. food and not expending it as energy i.e. exercise

X = Food Y = Exercise Z = Obesity N = Normal Healthy weight

X + Y = N

X - Y = Z

It's as simple as that.

CHEMICALS IN COSMETICS LINKED TO OBESITY I DON'T THINK SO

Chemical in fake tan and make-up is linked to obesity and diabetes

• Phthalates are widely used in a range of cosmetics
• Study finds link to weight gain and insulin resistance

A study found that a chemical commonly used in cosmetics can increase the risk of obesity

A chemical used in make-up and self tanning lotions has been linked to obesity.

Scientists found that those who were exposed to phthalates, colourless man-made substances included in a variety of common consumer products, were more prone to weight gain.

And subjects with even 'modest' levels of the substance in their bloodstream were twice as likely to develop diabetes.

One billion tons of phthalates are produced worldwide each year and they have been widely used as gelling agents in cosmetics, cleaning products and to make plastic bottles for more than half a century.

But now mounting evidence suggests they could have a negative health impact, promptingthe body to store more belly fat and become resistant to insulin as they disrupt the hormone balance.

Lead researcher Monica Lind, associate professor of environmental medicine at Uppsala University in Sweden, said: 'Those pollutants containing phthalates are making people obese and now we find they could get diabetes. These products need to be tested.

'Many are used in body products, like face creams, fake tan, make up and perfumes. Not only does the packaging contain them, but they are absorbed into the body and bloodstream through the skin.

'In perfume, we inhale the phthalates that are used to delay the scent and increase the lifetime of the perfume.'

Data from 1,000 people aged over 70 was looked at during the study and in total 119 had diabetes while 88 of them had a history of the condition.

After taking into account factors that are known to cause type 2 diabetes, including obesity, smoking and high cholesterol, they found people with higher levels of phthalates in their blood were more likely to develop insulin resistance. 

It is thought that in men phthalates have an anti-testosterone capacity linked to weigh gain, while in women they disrupt the hormone balance similar to those that might occur during the menopause or at puberty.

Phthalates crept into widespread use over the last several decades because of their beneficial chemical properties (picture shows the general chemical structure)

It is unclear which products contain the chemicals, as in many countries don't require them to be listed as ingredients, but it is known that perfumes and hair products, such as hairspray and mousse, are the worst offenders.

A spokesperson from Campaign for Safe Cosmetics said: 'Phthalates are found in about 70 per cent of fragrance containing personal care products (that's everything from perfume and cologne to fragrance-containing shampoos and deodorants). 

'They are not listed on labels because fragrance is considered a trade secret so companies don't have to disclose what's in it.'

Dr Paula Baillie-Hamilton, author of Stop the 21st Century Killing You and a researcher on human metabolism who has studied the connection between chemicals and obesity at the University of Stirling, is convinced that the abundance of chemical calories in our lives is the reason why so many people are getting fatter despite dieting and exercising more.

‘It’s a theory that was poo-pooed a decade ago but which has become a new field of medicine in itself,’ says Dr Baillie-Hamilton. 

WHAT ARE PHTHALATES AND WHAT COSMETICS CAN YOU FIND IT IN?

• They are a synthetic chemicals which disrupt hormones in the body
• They have been shown to damage the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive systems in animal studies, and increase the risk of obesity
• They can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled
• Cosmetic manufacturers use phthalates because they cling to the skin and nails to give perfumes, hair gels and nail polishes more staying power
• The Not Too Pretty report in 2002  was released by the non-profit environmental body The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics consumer to raise awareness about the dangers of phthalates 
• It is unclear which products contain phthalates because they are not labelled on packaging but 70 per cent of fragrance cosmetics such as soaps and perfumes contain high levels 
• Many countries don't require the chemicals to be listed under ingredients

In 2003 the European Union passed legislation banning some phthalates in cosmetics and has kept three phthalates out of toys since 1999.

Johanna Congleton, a senior scientist  from the Environmental Working Group, a U.S. environmental organisation, said the study gives further reason for the cosmetics industry to ban the use of phthalates completely.

She said; 'The implications of this study enforce the notion that environmental chemicals can act as 'obesogens' and alter biological functions involved in fat metabolism, which can influence body weight.

'Avoiding exposure is a good precautionary measure, and consumer product manufacturers should phase out the use of these compounds.' 

However Dr Iain Frame, Director of Research at Diabetes UK raised concerns over the recent study and the sample selected.

He said: 'This paper attempts to link the presence of phthalates in the bloodstream and the presence of Type 2 diabetes in an elderly population.

'It is a difficult area to research and this study was based on a relatively small number of white adults over 70 years old. 

'It shows an association between some metabolites, which are breakdown products, and the presence of Type 2 diabetes, but does not show that their presence causes Type 2 diabetes.

'We would be concerned if the reporting of this study diluted the very simple and evidence-based message that limiting the amount of calories in your diet and being regularly physically active is the best way of maintaining a healthy weight and so reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes.'

Following the publication of the findings in the journal Diabetes Care, Prof Lind added:'Although our results need to be confirmed in more studies, they do support the hypothesis that certain environmental chemicals can contribute to the development of diabetes.

'Consumers should ask for labelling. As it is now It's impossible know which products contain the chemical. We should also ask for better regulation.

'There's lots of also lots of other health problems (asthma, allergy, obesity, reproduction problem etc) which has been shown to be linked to the phthalates. 

'We now know enough to regulate these chemicals. In general all chemicals should be tested for safety before they go on the market not afterwards.'

Maggie Brown (Author)

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Hmmm... CAN A GLASS OF RED WINE PREVENT YOU FROM PUTTING ON WEIGHT

Before you go reaching for the bottle,  research is only suggesting a potential for this. Much more beneficial its the active ingredients that provide anti inflammatory effects etc.

Story is below is from the Daily Mail, interesting that this seems to be recent research however, research on Piceatannol has been ongoing for a number of years and findings were know about its benefits over ten years ago. It's long been known about it's anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory benefits and its for this reason its beneficial too you.

Piceatannol

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

red wine. Astringin, a piceatannol glucoside, is also in red wine.

Health effects

LMP2A, a viral protein-tyrosine kinase implicated in leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other diseases associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), were found in a 1989 study to be blocked by picetannol in vitro.In 2003, this prompted research interest in piceatannol as an anti-cancer and anti-EBV drug.

Injected in rats, piceatannol shows a rapid glucuronidation and a poor bioavailability, accordig to a 2006 study.

A 2012 Purdue University study found that fat cells in culture, in the presence of piceatannol, alters the timing of gene expressions, gene functions and insulin action, resulting the delay or complete inhibition of adipogenesis. The study suggest piceatannol has the potential to control obesity.

Note the research says has the potential, the best way to avoid getting obese is still the original and best i.e. eat a well balanced diet and regular exercise

How a glass of red wine could PREVENT you from putting on weight




Red wine contains piceatannol, which delays the generation of young fat cells
Drinking red wine could actually reduce your chance of piling on the pounds, according to a new scientific study.
The research shows enjoying the odd glass of Merlot may be less of a guilty pleasure and have an additional benefit.
Scientists have revealed a compound found in red wine can help control body fat.
The substance, called piceatannol, delays the generation of young fat cells and prevents them from growing into mature fat cells.
The compound blocks insulin’s ability to activate genes that carry out further stages of fat cell formation.
The agent found in wine is also thought to protect the body from heart and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.
The groundbreaking research was carried out at Purdue University, Indiana, USA.
Lead researcher Dr Kee-Hong Kim said: 'In the presence of piceatannol you can see delay or complete inhibition of young fat cells.
'Piceatannol alters the timing of gene expressions, gene functions and insulin action during adipogenesis - the process in which young fat cells become mature fat cells.'
Dr Kim, assistant professor of food science at the university, added: 'We are now testing our idea using animal model obesity to see if it has the same benefical functions.
'We need to work on improving the stability and solubility of piceatannol to create a biological effect.'
The compound is similar in structure to resveratrol - a supplement sold in the UK last year to combat disease - and is also found in grapes, blueberries and passion fruit.
The research was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.




Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2128751/How-glass-red-wine-PREVENT-putting-weight.html#ixzz1rq3XffXv

Maggie Brown (Author)

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