A ban of super large soft drinks may produce disastrous health consequences

The lurking danger behind the sugar soda ban

Have you ever tried to fix something and just made it worse?

Yes, I’m talking to you, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. You might be interested to hear about a remote South Pacific island that had a cat problem.

When cats threatened the seabird population, the locals got rid of the cats. But then, populations of rats, mice, and rabbits surged. That led to loss of vegetation, soil erosion, and the collapse of bluffs. And the bluffs are the natural habitat of…yep…seabirds.

So to save the seabirds, locals now plan to exterminate the rats, mice and rabbits. Safe to say, that island hasn’t seen the last of unintended consequences.

Meanwhile, in far away New York, a similar situation is underway. Good intentions have produced an action that appears logical to some.

Now stand aside and watch the disastrous health consequences multiply.

If it ain’t broke, don’t break it

Last week I pointed out the stupidity of Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed ban of large sodas.

In fairness, it’s actually just a ban on large cups. The soda will still flow. Those who overindulge will continue their binges. The ban will not curb obesity by even a millimeter.

But in my rush to tell you how ridiculous the idea was, I ignored a key detail about the ban.

Diet drinks are exempt! Well of COURSE! Because diet drinks curb obesity, right?

Uh…no. Wrong.

In 2007, I told you about a study that found daily soda drinkers at greater risk of obesity. They also had higher triglycerides, impaired fasting glucose, and higher blood pressure. But here’s the result researchers didn’t see coming. It didn’t matter if subjects drank regular sodas or diet sodas. The increased risks were nearly identical.

But wait. It gets worse.

Last year, a nine-year study found that people who drank diet soda every day increased their heart attack and stroke risk by more than 60%!

And yes, it could get even worse. Because anyone who’s drinking a bucket of diet soda is getting a huge dose of Aspartame or Neotame or Sucralose.

Animal research has linked all these sweeteners with potential problems, including cancer, neurological damage, and (read it and weep) weight gain.

So imagine a New Yorker who is accustomed to drinking a daily 48 oz. soda. He might try to outsmart the mayor by choosing a giant diet soda. He might even imagine he’s making a healthy change for the better.

And he would be wrong.

Mayor Bloomberg, let’s be honest. You can legislate against obesity or bad choices. So drop the ban before your nanny-state tactics actually make New Yorkers sicker and fatter.

Sources:
“You Think HFCS Drinks Are Dangerous, Mr. Mayor? Why Do You Think Diet Drinks Are Better?” Alliance for Natural Health, 6/5/12, anh-usa.org