Excess Sugar in Soda Facts

The average 12-ounce (360 ml.) can of soda pop contains about 40 grams of refined sugars. That's 10 teaspoons of pure calories. Would you ever eat 10 teaspoons of sugar at once? Diets high in refined sugars can promote obesity, which increases the risks of diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. Sugary soft drinks also promote tooth decay. The high sugar content is a major reason why health professionals are concerned about frequent consumption of soft drinks.

	Sugars Content of Carbonated Non-Diet Soft Drinks Sugars* Minute Maid Orange Soda (Coca-Cola Co.) 48 Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) 46 Pepsi 41 Dr Pepper (Cadbury Schweppes) 40 Coca-Cola Classic 39 7Up (Cadbury Schweppes) 39 Sprite (Coca-Cola Co.) 38 * grams per 12 fl. oz (360 mL)

For comparison, the U. S. Department of Agriculture recommends that a person who consumes a 2,000 calorie diet should not consume more than about 40 grams of refined sugars per day.

Carbonated drinks are the single biggest source of refined sugars in the American diet.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1995: 62 (suppl): 178S-194S.

"Teens just about hit their recommended sugar limits from soft drinks alone. With candy, cookies, cake, ice cream, and other sugary foods, most exceed those recommendations by a large margin." Source: Michael F. Jacobson. "Liquid Candy: How Soft Drinks are Harming America

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