Carbonated drinks health issues

[Naveed Yaseen]

Murtaza Hasan, a student of grade 10 in City School, Darakhshan, drinks a 1.5 litre bottle of carbonated beverage everyday. His friends also share the same routine in their recess time at school. Most school going children in the country, such as Hasan and his friends, are oblivious to the harmful consequences of these “thirst-quenchers”.

Carbonated drinks which are readily available in schools tuck shops have a number of detrimental strings attached to them. The phosphoric acid present in soft drinks is also a constituent element in cleaning products, detergents, and fertilizers and is considered to be violently poisonous. Caffeine in these products disrupts sleeping patterns, while excessive sugar causes corrosion of teeth, and leads to teeth loss. Carbon dioxide also has a disastrous effect on the gastro intestinal system, and causes indigestion and swelling of the stomach. A person consuming a huge amount of aerated drinks may also suffer from malnutrition.

Abid Hasnain, a professor in the Food Sciences and Technology Department at the University of Karachi (KU) told The News: “The phosphoric acid which is present in soft drinks extracts calcium from the human body. The body then tries to neutralise the acid with the calcium present in the bones. The removal of calcium from the bones eventually causes osteoporosis.”

Citing other harmful effects, a paediatrician at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Iqtedar Ahmed Khan said, “Excessive amount of consumption of carbonated beverages leads to obesity and hypertension among teenagers. Some teenagers are also prone to allergies due to colouring agents and preservatives present in these soft drinks.”

Khan also does not consider diet soft drinks as safe for consumption. “Research is now proving that the aspartame which is used in diet soft drinks instead of sugar, triggers off migraines and headaches,” he remarked.

While there is lack of awareness among teenagers regarding these high-calorie drinks, schools do not pay heed to spreading consciousness among the students regarding the phenomenon, and a large number of teenagers become regular drinkers of fizzy drinks.

Amna Haq, a 15-year-old Bay View Academy student said, “Teenagers consider it ‘cool’ to glug down soft drinks. Those who consume juice or water are made fun of by their peers.” Haq reinstated the fact that none of her friends or classmates know what dangers fizzy drinks poses to them.

It is also worth mentioning that the recent increase in prices of carbonated beverages has resulted in a huge decrease in their sales. Shamroz, a canteen owner at the D.A. Higher Secondary School told The News: “Increase in prices of soft drinks has greatly affected the sales of aerated drinks in schools. Previously, a good number of students used to consume drinks, but now only 100-200 people drink soft drinks everyday.” A bottle of 250ml at the school costs around Rs25. According to Shamroz, by the end of the month, the price will be raised up to Rs30. A can on the other hand costs around Rs30.

While most of the schools in the city do not have a policy regarding what is to be sold at their tuck shops, one of the city’s elitist schools has a different stance on the issue: soft drinks have been banned at the Karachi Grammar School (KGS) since 2006. Prof. Hasnain condoned such responsive attitude of school administrations. “Schools should adopt a serious attitude towards the ban of sale of soft drinks at their canteens.”

Students at KGS have become used to this prohibition. Requesting anonymity, a grade 10 KGS student said, “At first everyone had problems adjusting to the concept of consuming only juices and water instead of soft drinks. However, with the passage of time, people got used to the habit and now we happily quench our thirst with water and juices.”

—By Rabia Ali
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=174054