In the 'Symptoms - Food - Beverages' section of our in-depth questionnaire we ask the following question about soft drink consumption:
 |
 |
 |
|
Do you consume soft drinks? One drink is equivalent to a standard 330ml / 12oz can.
|
Your answer |
...indicates |
...and suggests |
| 1. |
"Never / rarely / don't know" |
No/low soft drink consumption |
A risk factor |
| 2. |
"One drink a week or less" |
Soft drink consumption |
A risk factor |
| 3. |
"2-6 drinks each week" |
Soft drink consumption |
A risk factor |
| 4. |
"1-4 drinks each day" |
Moderate soft drink consumption |
A risk factor |
| 5. |
"Over 4 drinks each day" |
High soft drink consumption |
A risk factor |
(If your response is 2, 3, 4 or 5 then you will be asked further questions about soft drink consumption later.)
|
|
 |
|
 |
Your answer will affect the likelihoods of the conditions below.
Any answers in green reduce the likelihood of the condition.
|
|
|
|
| Answers |
Condition |
Comment |
|
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Calcium Requirement |
The carbonation in soft drinks causes calcium loss in the bones through a three-stage process:- The carbonation irritates the stomach.
- The stomach "cures" the irritation the only way it knows how. It adds the only antacid at its disposal: calcium. It gets this from the blood.
- The blood, now low in calcium, replenishes its supply from the bones. If it did not do this, muscular and brain function would be severely impaired.
But the story doesn't end there. Another problem with most soft drinks is that they also contain phosphoric acid (not the same as the carbonation, which is carbon dioxide mixed with the water). This substance also causes a drawdown on the store of calcium.
Soft drinks soften your bones (actually, they make them weak and brittle) in three ways:- Carbonation reduces the calcium in the bones.
- Phosphoric acid reduces the calcium in the bones.
- The beverage replaces a calcium-containing alternative, such as milk or water. Milk and water are not excellent calcium sources, but they are sources.
|
|
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Consequences of Poor Diet |
-- |
|
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Dehydration |
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
GLOSSARY
Antacid (Antacids)
Neutralizes acid in the stomach, esophagus, or first part of the duodenum.
Calcium
The body's most abundant mineral. Its primary function is to help build and maintain bones and teeth. The body also needs calcium to carry nerve signals, keep the heart functioning, contract muscles, clot blood and maintain healthy skin. Calcium helps control blood acid-alkaline balance, plays a role in cell division, muscle growth and iron utilization, activates certain enzymes, and helps transport nutrients through cell membranes. Calcium also forms a cellular cement called ground substance that helps hold cells and tissues together.
Milliliter (mL)
0.001 or one thousandth of a liter.
Ounce (Ounces, oz)
Approximately 28 grams.
Stomach
A hollow, muscular, J-shaped pouch located in the upper part of the abdomen to the left of the midline. The upper end (fundus) is large and dome-shaped; the area just below the fundus is called the body of the stomach. The fundus and the body are often referred to as the cardiac portion of the stomach. The lower (pyloric) portion curves downward and to the right and includes the antrum and the pylorus. The function of the stomach is to begin digestion by physically breaking down food received from the esophagus. The tissues of the stomach wall are composed of three types of muscle fibers: circular, longitudinal and oblique. These fibers create structural elasticity and contractibility, both of which are needed for digestion. The stomach mucosa contains cells which secrete hydrochloric acid and this in turn activates the other gastric enzymes pepsin and rennin. To protect itself from being destroyed by its own enzymes, the stomach’s mucous lining must constantly regenerate itself.
Last updated: Dec 09, 2008
|
 |
|
|
