As a Doctor, every time I see one of my daughters reach for the latest health juice fad on the market, a small part of me twinges. Often, I think to myself, “Throughout my entire career as a physician, did I fail to teach them about the excessive sugar content in seemingly healthy beverages? Do they not realize that they are being sucked into a (tremendously successful) marketing scheme?” Then again, they are teenage girls and I must choose my battles.
During my time as Idris Dahod MD, Naked fruit juices serves as one of the most glaring examples of a marketing campaign creating a false narrative. The beverage was once marketed as “all natural,” but following a $9 million settlement, parent company PepsiCo Inc. dropped “all natural” from the label. In fact, Naked juices contain 12 more grams of sugar than a 12 oz. can of regular Pepsi. Next time one of my daughters goes to grab a Naked juice I’ll encourage her to drink a Pepsi instead; it is cheaper and contains less sugar. A can of Coke would be even better as it contains less sugar than a can of Pepsi.
The primary point I am making is that we should all be aware of these gimmicks that beverage companies use to boost sales and target an increasingly health-conscious market. As soda sales shrink, beverage giants the likes of PepsiCo and Coca-Cola will continue to acquire juice manufacturers, cut costs and markup prices. I encourage my readers and consumers to be cautious and to read each label carefully before buying into the trendiest new option.
Despite studies that indicate a slowing trend, obesity continues to plague the United States and disproportionally effects our nation’s youth. In fact, the latest data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey show that the national obesity rate among youth ages 2 to 19 is 18.5%. The rate varies among different age groups, with rates rising along with age. To break it down, the prevalence of obesity ranges from 13.9% among 2- to 5-year-olds; 18.4% among 6- to 11-year-olds; and 20.6% among 12- to 19-year-olds[1].
Moreover, the likelihood of diabetes, hypertension and physical inactivity increase proportionally alongside obesity rates. The “silent criminals,” if you will, are often fruit juices and sports drinks filled with empty calories marketed as “health conscious” or “energy boosting.” An average can of regular soda or fruit juice contains about 150 calories, almost all of them coming from added sugar. Consuming just one of these beverages a day without cutting back on calories elsewhere could result in a weight gain of about 5 lbs. a year. Beyond weight gain, regular consumption of sugar-loaded beverages can increase the risk of type II diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases. Furthermore, as corroborated by a new study published in Circulation, higher consumption of sugary beverages has been linked to an increased risk of premature death. The study’s lead author, Dr. Malik, suggests that reducing the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) in favor of water can significantly improve overall health and longevity. and replacing. Compared with infrequent SSB drinkers, those who drank two or more servings SSBs per day had a 31% higher risk of early death from cardiovascular disease[2].
I understand our society favors consumerism; however, I am not asking that you stop drinking soda overnight. All I encourage is that you be aware of what you consume. Next time you go to reach for a sugary drink, read the label simply and understand what you are feeding your body. And if I haven’t convinced you, that is okay. Everything is okay in moderation.
Feel free to reach out with questions at dahod.idris@gmail.com and stay tuned for Health Insights at https://idrisdahodmd.com.
Idris Dahod, MD
Pediatrics / Pediatric GI & Nutrition
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Childhood Obesity Facts.
- Malik V, Li Y, Pan A, De Koning L, Schernhammer E, Willett W, Hu F. Long-Term Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Mortality in US Adults. Circulation. 2019 Mar 18.