Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
Researchers at the University of Houston reviewed
scientific studies to explain why sugared drinks make people fat.
(Nutrition Review, April 2006) and concluded that sugared drinks
do not fill people up as much as solid food does. So calories in
drinks do not suppress appetite as effectively as calories in food.
Soft drinks average seven teaspoons of sugar per 12-ounce
serving, so for each soft drink a child takes in, he gets 140
calories that do not suppress appetite as much as the same
number of calories in solid food.
Since fruit juices contain as much sugar and calories as
soft drinks, it makes no sense to substitute juices for soft drinks.
It’s far better to learn to drink water to quench thirst, and get
calories, vitamins and other nutrients from solid foods. One way
to get overweight children to take in fewer calories is to serve
them sparkling mineral water or soda water, which has carbon
dioxide bubbles and no calories. To many people, this bubbly
water is more refreshing and tasty than ordinary water.
September 15, 2006