Soft drink & respiratory illness: Killing us softly?

2 mins to read

Bubbly, fizzy, sticky sweetness. Soft drink – is it a harmless treat or is it really doing us some harm? Naturopath Danielle Steedman investigates.

Cold, flu & immunity

Soft drink, pop, soda, fizzy drink, whatever you call it, sweet carbonated beverages have become a common part of the average Australian diet.

It is estimated 113 L of soft drink was consumed in 1999, for every man, woman and child. This is a staggering 301 standard cans. Each 600 ml bottle contains 12-15 teaspoons of sugar.

Our national thirst has seen a 30% increase in sugar sweetened soft drink consumption in the last 10 years , and unfortunately it has had quite a significant impact on our nation’s health.

Research suggests that consumption of soft drink is linked to a range of health issues such as weight gain, blood sugar disturbance, tooth decay , poor kidney health and respiratory illness. These health concerns have led to soft drinks being banned in many schools around the world. And in New York there have even been restrictions placed on serving sizes.

It seems that it is not just the actual contents of the drink itself that is cause for concern, but what it replaces in the diet. Research has suggested that people will consume less milk, calcium, fruit, dietary fibre and have generally poorer eating habits when they drink soft drink. Increased soft drink consumption appears to occur with a higher incidence of tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption.

A recent study has found that a positive correlation between soft drink consumption and respiratory illness. Researchers looked at the drinking habits of 16,907 individuals, aged over 16 years, living in South Australia. The study found a connection between daily consumption of more than half a litre of soft drink and an increased incidence of respiratory illness. This research is consistent with previous findings on the association between sugar consumption and respiratory illness in children.

Although the researchers did not establish the reasons for this association, they postulated it may lie with increased inflammation and oxidative stress due to the high sugar content of soft drink. It has been suggested that sugar consumption increased the risk of allergic airway inflammation and activates an immune reaction in the lungs.

Another possibility raised is the exposure to the phthalates that are present in the plastic bottles. Chemicals such as phthalates may be involved in the development of certain respiratory illnesses. Allergies to preservatives used e.g. nitrites and sulphites may also make an individual more susceptible to the development of respiratory illness.

Soft drink consumption is a real health concern for many of the world’s populations, with a worrying, rapid increase of consumption by people in developing countries, such as Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. Mexico has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity, after the US, and that large intake of soft drinks is proposed as part of the problem.

Soft drinks are widely available, relatively cheap and have great popular appeal. However it seems that the evidence is clear; these drinks are best left for special occasions and treats rather than everyday consumption.