Drinking diet sodas and your health; why America's food supply promotes weight gain
Q: I gave up sugary sodas and got used to drinking diet ones. Now I hear they're not good for my health either. What's up with that? - Kaylie G., Tampa, Florida
A: Good question! Pop is everywhere: There's Iggy Pop, pop-up fly balls ... and soda pop. But no matter what you think about those popular parts of American life, only one is linked to health hazards: That's soda pop - both sweetened and diet. (Well, Iggy Pop could be hard on your hearing!)
Drinking sugar-added beverages is a known risk for obesity, and drinking one to two cans daily puts you at a 26 percent greater risk of Type 2 diabetes! And an observational study in the journal Stroke reveals that artificially sweetened beverages may be a health risk, too: Researchers found that those who drink at least one diet soda daily are 2.9 times more likely to have an ischemic stroke and 3 times more likely to develop dementia than abstainers.
Now, it may be that folks who are overweight and have Type 2 diabetes or heart disease give up sugary sodas for diet versions - and then develop health problems, like stroke and dementia, that are repercussions of their chronic medical conditions. So, the researchers want to make it clear: In this study, the association of diet soda to dementia and stroke doesn't mean that it CAUSES those conditions or that giving it up can help you avoid them. Instead it's a red flag, saying "Hey, what's going on with your health?"
So if you're a diet-soda drinker (Dr. Mike was - 36 cans a day before his assistant Beth and Dr. Oz intervened in 2010; his last soda of any kind was 9/4/10 at 4:30 p.m.), it's time to assess your health and stress levels, and make a plan to get in 10,000 steps a day (dispels stress, burns fat and tones muscle), eat 5-9 servings of produce daily (fights heart disease and diabetes), and rely on water, coffee and tea for your beverages.
Q: I have a two-year grant to study in the states, so I brought my family from Mexico City. We've been here only for about six months, and my boys, 10 and 15, are gaining weight. How can I help them avoid that? - Maria G., Austin, Texas
A: Welcome! We're sorry, but crossing the border puts you at certain health risks. The fast-food, quick-stop, drive-thru American diet packs on pounds. (The Pima Indians in Mexico are virtually diabetes-free, but when they live in the states, almost 100 percent of the population develops Type 2 diabetes!) But there are solutions.
First, teach your kids (you do this, too) to look on ingredients labels for added sugars and added syrups. They're in almost all processed foods and sugary drinks. High-fructose corn syrup is one of the biggest sugar polluters, and the corn it's derived from is generally genetically modified, which means it's usually been treated with the pesticide glyphosate (brand name Round-Up). New research has shown possible links from GMO foods and glyphosate-treated crops to endocrine disruption, organ damage and birth defects.
Second, trans fats used in snack foods, margarine, packaged baked goods and fried fast foods, and saturated fats, found in processed and red meats and full-fat dairy, are found throughout our food chain. They'll pack on pounds and are bad for your heart and other organ systems. Instead, go for monounsaturated fats, like extra-virgin olive oil and healthy fats found in nuts, avocados and polyunsaturated oils.
Lastly, say "no" to grains that aren't 100 percent whole! Whole grains help you avoid weight gain, insulin resistance and diabetes, while refined grains, such as white bread or rice, are associated with those health hazards.
It will take attention to detail for a while, but you'll get it down. Then you and your family will have an easier time controlling your weight - and you'll have more energy, mental focus and a happier outlook.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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