Mmmmm, with a title like that, you KNOW this is gonna be good!
I hope pop is something you try to avoid to begin with, but now, maybe you’ll have extra motivation to abstain from fountain drinks when you go out!
Pop is already a drink to skip as much as possible with all it’s chemicals and sugar (diet or not!) It’s a very acid-forming food (wrinkles! Akk!), and there are studies now linking soda intake with bad bones. Calcium is a very alkaline substance, so if you’re dumping acid pop (or coffee!) into your system, your body will pull calcium from its stores to help buffer it. And where is a lot of calcium stored? Bones and teeth, my friend. Bones and teeth. Well, here’s what’s new with pop…
It may have poop in it.
It may have poop in it.
Uh, say again?
The International Journal of Food Microbiology did a study that was published this month. They went to soda fountain machines and tested them for bacteria. In testing, they really did check all options: regular soda, diet soda, water, and even the ice dispenser. Ahhh, and what wonderful little things did they find? Thankfully, the ice water tested just fine. But 48% had coliform bacteria, which can be found in an aquatic environment, in soil, on vegetation, or most commonly… (dun dun duuuuun) in fecal matter of warm-blooded animals. Gross!
The report goes on to say over 11% of the beverages tested had Escherichia coli, and over 17% had Chryseobacterium meningosepticum. But wait! There’s more! A whole line up of microorganisms were waiting in line: Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, Stenotrophomonas, Candida, and Serratia. And to top it all off, most of the identified bacteria showed resistance to one or more of the 11 antibiotics tested.
The report goes on to say over 11% of the beverages tested had Escherichia coli, and over 17% had Chryseobacterium meningosepticum. But wait! There’s more! A whole line up of microorganisms were waiting in line: Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, Stenotrophomonas, Candida, and Serratia. And to top it all off, most of the identified bacteria showed resistance to one or more of the 11 antibiotics tested.Awesome. Drug-resistant poopy pop.
Chances are your immune system can handle it, but still! So, if you’re eating out at a restaurant, well, now you have yet another reason to opt out of pop. Go for the water – it’s healthier, it’s cheaper, and it’s cleaner. Squeeze a little lemon in to help with that good ol' alkalinity and beneficial enzymes! And just sip – you don’t want to over dilute your stomach acid anyways, because that's what's going to help you digest your dinner better and faster, not leaving you feeling bloated and backed up.
Have a great day! It’s Friday Eve! :)
~Katie
Wow Kate that's useful information, I do generally stay away from Pop as you call it. What about beer? or wine with food?
ReplyDeleteHi John! Good for you for avoiding pop/soda/cola :)
ReplyDeleteAs far as bacterial contaminants - if you order beer or wine from a restaurant, it should be fine. It was just the fountain drink machine that tested to be bacteria-ridden.
Beer and wine have some studies that show benefits - but you'd have to weigh the cost:benefit ratio to decide what's best for you. Wine does have antioxidants and resveratrol thanks to the red grapes used. So... you can get the same benefits from fresh grapes! (Plus then you get extra benefits like other nutrients, fiber, etc!)
So... not to sound like a crazed "food police"... but when the alcohol is in your system, it is technically a poison - your liver works hard to metabolize it, break it down, and try to get rid of it. And when your body is busy focusing on the liver, energy is sort of "re-routed" there and away from digesting food; so that food will more readily be stored away as fat instead. Ahhh, the "beer belly."
But you may find a glass of wine with a meal may be a nice treat for you that offers you emotional/mental peace, and that's worth it to you(and maybe you can find some organic wine!) So you'll have to decide what's the best balance for you!