Title: Soda Not the Best Choice

Megan Wibbenmeyer

Speech IV

Title: Soda—Not the Best Choice

Purpose: To inform my audience about the health risks of drinking too much soda and encourage them to drink less soda.

Thesis: Americans, especially teenagers, are drinking more and more soda, despite the health risks it poses.

Introduction:

I. It is one o’clock in the morning and you are cramming for a test. You can barely keep your eyes open.

II. What you need is some caffeine, right? So you gulp down a soda to give yourself a boost.

III. You are at a restaurant and your choice of drink—soda.

IV. When the waiter repeatedly offers to refill your glass, you don’t decline.

V. If these cases resemble your soda drinking habits, you are not alone.

VI. [Thesis] Americans, especially teenagers, are drinking more and more soda, despite the health risks it poses.

VII. [Preview] Since several of you are probably fans of soda, I will let you know what soda can do to you.

Body:

I. Americans often choose soda over healthy drinks.

The amount of soda consumed by Americans is not only surprising, but quite disturbing.
Of all the drinks that Americans consume, one fourth of the amount is soda.
Soft drink companies are aware of the popularity of soda, so they produce

large amounts of this beverage every year.

Annually, companies make enough soda to provide every adult and

child with a little over 52 gallons of the beverage—or 557 12-ounce cans. That is about 23 cases of soda for every person per year.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, children and adolescents are

the heaviest consumers of soft drinks.

a. The Community Nutrition Research Group reports that

19-year-old girls drink at least 14 ounces of soda on any given day.

A different study, involving boys, found that 96% drink soda. 60% drink two or more a day.

This amount of consumption is something to be aware of and concerned about.
All of this soda is replacing more important beverages that our bodies need, such as milk and water.

[Transition] Soda not only replaces what our bodies need, but it contributes to a number of health problems.

II. Drinking soda can produce discomfort and disease in the digestive tract.

A. The health journal, Chest, examined the relationship between soda and heartburn.

B. A study of over 15,000 people revealed more than 3,800 had nighttime heartburn.

a. That is nearly 1 in 4 people.

Those with nighttime heartburn had typically consumed one or more sodas per day.

C. This may not seem like a big deal. All the heartburn could do is interrupt your sleep, right? Wrong.

D. Nighttime heartburn is found to be more serious than daytime heartburn.

It causes more damage to the esophagus.
This damage can lead to cancer of the esophagus.

E. This is a long-term health issue that many soda drinkers likely do not

even know about.

[Transition] In addition to this, there are other harms to consider.

III. Drinking soda can produce tooth decay and weakening of bones.

A. Drinking too much soda can result in an unhealthy smile for those who can’t

kick the habit.

Everyone knows that there is sugar in soda, but some people may not

realize exactly how much sugar they are putting into their bodies.

A 12 ounce can of regular soda has close to 12 teaspoons of

sugar—meaning one teaspoon of sugar for every ounce.

In a 20 ounce bottle of regular soda, there are a little over 16

teaspoons of sugar. (visual aid) This is how much sugar your body is taking in for just one drink.

As I said earlier, many Americans, especially teenagers, are

drinking more than one soda per day. This means that they could be consuming more than 16 teaspoons of sugar a day, just from soda.

b. Dentists at the University of Maryland recently discovered that “flavor-

enhancing acids” in soda can be just as bad if not worse than sugar.

These acids contribute to destruction of tooth enamel.

1. As you know, enamel protects teeth from decaying.

d. Light soda versus dark also makes a difference.

Non-cola sodas, such as Mountain Dew and Sprite, contain more acid and are up to five times more harmful than darker soda.

Even though the best decision for your smile would be to steer clear

from all kinds of soda, it is simply not an option for some people.

For those of you who cannot give up your daily soda, there are a couple of behaviors that will help you protect your teeth.
The Academy of General Dentistry says to avoid sipping your

soda over a long period of time and to drink it from a straw.

This way, the acid is in contact with your mouth for a

shorter amount of time, hopefully decreasing your chances of tooth decay.

g. Unfortunately, acid threatens more than teeth.

B. The acid in soda is also a possible cause of bone weakness.

Scientists have said that phosphorus, or phosphoric acid, attaches to

calcium in the stomach which prevents the calcium from being absorbed and finding its way to the bones.

Researchers at CreightonUniversity’s OsteoporosisResearchCenter

think that the weakening of bones is due to something much simpler.

Soda is the beverage of choice and is replacing calcium-filled

milk.

Therefore, our bodies are not getting the nutrients that it needs

to stay strong.

Dr. Bess Dawson-Hughes says “Milk displacement is responsible for significant declines in the amount of calcium Americans are consuming today, which is a far greater threat to bone density than the amount of phosphorus in a can of soda.”

No matter which theory you follow, both say that consuming too much

soda can deprive your bones of calcium and cause weaker bones.

[Transition] As if cancer, rotten teeth, and weak bones aren’t enough reason for concern, let me give you another.

IV. Drinking soda can lead to weight gain, which can, in turn, result in diabetes.

A. Since 1980, obesity rates have doubled in children and adults and tripled in

adolescents.

a. Nutritionists believe that the large consumption of soda has contributed

to this rise in obesity and scientists are studying the relationship

between soda and weight gain.

A. Researchers at Harvard followed more than 50,000 women over a period of

four years.

B. Those who went from drinking one soda or less a week to at least one a day

gained about 10 pounds over the four years.

C. These same researchers studied 90,000 other women who drank soda at least

once a day.

These women had almost twice the risk of type 2 diabetes than those who drank soda less than once a month.
The women who drank soda also weighed more and on average ate

more.

D. Overall, the Harvard researchers believe that the main cause of diabetes, in

this case, is because of the weight gain from soda.

[Transition] As you can see, soda might taste good, but it is very unhealthy.

Conclusion:

I. More than ever, Americans, including and especially teenagers, are choosing soda over other beverages, even though it can be harmful to their bodies.

II. Now that you are aware of the unpleasant side-affects, you can change your soda

drinking habits.

III. It is one o’clock in the morning and you are cramming for that test. All you need

is an energy boost.

IV. Before you reach for a soda, think about your body. You will thank yourself later.

Bibliography

Bowman, Shanthy A. “Soda Pop Tops Teens Beverage Choices.” Agricultural

Research 51.7 (2003): 23. 11 November 2005

“Can Drinking Too Much Soda Pop Increase Diabetes Risk? If So, How?” Tufts

University Health and Nutrition Letter 22.8 (2004): 1-8. 12 November 2005

“Kick the Soda to Reduce Night Heartburn.” TuftsUniversity Health and Nutrition

Letter 23.5 (2005): 3. 11 November 2005

Kuzemchak, Sally. “Away From Home, Foods Get Fatty.” Family Circle December

2005: 21.

Salaman, Maureen Kennedy. All Your Health Questions Answered. Mountain View,

California: Bay to Bay Distribution, 1998.

“Soda Pop and Weakened Bones: How Are They Linked?” TuftsUniversity Health and

Nutrition Letter 19.11 (2002): 3. 12 November 2005. <

“Soda Ups Weight.” Nutrition Action Health Letter 31.10 (2004): 7. 11 November 2005

Steinmehl, Eric. “Be Soda-Smart to Save Your Smile.” Health 18.10 (2004): 43. 10

November 2005 <