"Sugar-sweetened beverages (soda sweetened with sugar, corn syrup, or other caloric sweeteners and other carbonated and uncarbonated drinks, such as sports and energy drinks) may be the single largest driver of the obesity epidemic. A recent meta-analysis found that the intake of sugared beverages is associated with increased body weight, poor nutrition, and displacement of more healthful beverages; increasing consumption increases risk for obesity and diabetes; the strongest effects are seen in studies with the best methods (e.g., longitudinal and interventional vs. correlational studies); and interventional studies show that reduced intake of soft drinks improves health.1 Studies that do not support a relationship between consumption of sugared beverages and health outcomes tend to be conducted by authors supported by the beverage industry.2 " ANN's NOTE: Many of you know that I HATE soda and have been on a one-woman campaign to get anyone I know to STOP drinking it. This article is actually proposing/supporting taxes on soda. I think we should just make sure it is NOT available at our meetings, our schools, our institutions. STOP buying it and STOP serving it. It leaches minerals from our bones, and many of our bones have been weakened by chemotherapy. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMp0902392?query=TOC The author also points to the "increasing affordability of soda — and the decreasing affordability of fresh fruits and vegetables". I can hardly stand it. Ann F. April 2009 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.