Cafe Body

It’s no secret that society changes over time. Due to changes in technology, customs, cultural preferences and the influence of other communities, the standards and practices in any society undergo transformations. In most cases, these changes are made for the betterment of society, as research and development uncovers better, more efficient ways to live, work and play. And while such changes and evolutionary occurrences in society may at first seem like drastic, unwelcome alterations to the established and agreed-upon norms, even the largest changes are eventually accepted. Even if adapting to new, unfamiliar customs feels awkward, the transition often goes off without a hitch.

Of course, not all changes in society are for the better. Often, despite the best intentions of government and institutional leadership as well as citizens themselves, changes that bring about unfortunate consequences do occur. One obvious modern example of this is the shifting nutritional standards in today’s society. In many ways, the standards of health and nutrition in society have eroded, leading to levels of obesity and disease previously unseen and, some might argue, unimagined. While it is difficult to pin down the many factors that led to the horrid state of health at this point in time, there are some causes that can be traced relatively easily. It’s hard to ignore the correlation between the proliferation of fast food and the rapid rise of obesity. In addition, a drastic decrease in activity and an increase in machines replacing human effort would seem to be related.

Another very significant factor is the increase in non-nutritive caloric intake. The biggest culprit here is sweetened beverages; these drinks do not trigger the body’s satiety cues and in some cases, can lead to increased energy intake after ingestion. And the problem with these sugar-laden calorie coladas isn’t just that they are being added to the average person’s diet. Though that would be harmful enough, the damaging effect of these drinks is multiplied by the fact that many people are using them as replacements for more nutritious beverages such as juice and milk. In fact, a recent study showed that "girls who consumed more servings of sweetened beverage at age 5 had significantly higher adiposity during childhood and adolescence." And the explanation wasn’t just in beverage intake alone, as those who consumed juice and milk did not demonstrate the same pattern (1).

The replacement of milk, specifically, is a major concern. Another study, conducted over a period of two years, indicated that increased dairy intake led to lower increases in body weight and body fat (2). And another study, published in the latest edition of the British Journal of Nutrition, revealed another troubling effect of replacing milk with a soft drink. In this study, levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) were significantly reduced in the soft drink group. This is very significant because IGF-1 is essential in child and adolescent development and also promotes muscle gain in adults (3).

As these studies indicate, the evidence continues to pile up promoting the idea that the proliferation of soft drinks is a very detrimental occurence in society. As it turns out, not all changes are for the better.

SOURCES:

1. Fiorito, Laura M., et al. Beverage intake of girls at age 5 y predicts adiposity and weight status in childhood and adolescence. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2009; 90(4): 935-942

2. Yi-Chin Lin, MS, et al. Dairy Calcium is Related to Changes in Body Composition during a Two-Year Exercise Intervention in Young Women. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2000; 19(6): 754-760

3. Hoppe, Camille, et al. Short-term effects of replacing milk with cola beverages on insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-glucose metabolism: a 10 d interventional study in young men. British Journal of Nutrition, 2009; 102(7): 1047-1051

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