Think Before You Drink: Sugar Shockers & Beverage Tips

Packed with solid information about the pros and cons of drinking all sorts of popular beverages, Think Before You Drink delivers a lot of eye-opening facts. For example, an ordinary can of soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar, which not only carries a high calorie count but also can be harmful to teeth and bone, and lead to cardiovascular problems and diabetes. Sugar also spurs an energy spike followed by a crash, which encourages consumers to keep drinking more. Artificial sweeteners in sodas have drawbacks as well, driving up the tolerance for sweets and leading to overeating. Other beverages marketed as being healthy also receive close scrutiny here, including "sports drinks" (full of sugars), vitamin-enhanced waters (also featuring addictive sugars), and energy drinks such as Red Bull (loaded with sugar and caffeine). Caffeine can also contribute to calcium loss, increased blood pressure, and digestion issues. A half-dozen teenagers are asked a variety of questions related to their perceptions of good and bad beverages; unsurprisingly, they are as wrong in their assumptions as many adult consumers. Recommended. Aud: E, I, J, H, C, P. (T. Keogh)