Soft drink companies are now turning to sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup to sweeten beverages "for a limited time only." Be it for improved taste or the result of the beating the HFCS has taken lately in the news; the "throwback" soft drinks are no better for you. Chemically, sugar and HFCS contain similar amounts of glucose and fructose, both contain about 50 calories per tablespoon, and neither are hardly a health food.
Carbonated beverages also contain phosphorous; a nutrient with a double-edged blade. Even flavored "fizzy" waters contain phosphorous. Phosphorous combines with calcium to harden bones and teeth. As we age, and our ability to absorb calcium decreases, the excess phosphorous tends to harden the soft tissue in the joints for people prone to osteoarthritis, and can aggravate the disease.
Osteoporosis and low bone density has also been linked to soda consumption. Again, excess phosphorous in the blood stimulates a hormonal reaction that signals the breakdown of bone (removing calcium from the bone and replenishing the blood with calcium), in order to balance the two minerals in the blood. Both minerals are then excreted by the kidneys.
Keep bones and joints healthy for life by limiting or even omitting carbonated beverages from your diet. Opt for iced teas, fruit juice, skim milk, or better yet, water!
~Tufts University
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