Lose Weight and Avoid Cancer too?

United States soft drink makers have been the target of critics lately  who contend the sugary drinks we've all grown up to love are a major contributor to childhood obesity in the US.

The state of California and the city of Philadelphia have introduced legislation to tax soft drinks, while both the New York Governor David Paterson and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are also pushing for such a tax. "In these tough economic times, easy fixes to our problems are hard to come by," said Mayor Bloomberg. "But the soda tax is a fix that just makes sense, it would cut rising health costs."

And - in a surprise move - the soft drink makers are objecting!!  They contend their products are not to blame for the fattening of America.

The facts remain - the sweetener used to make our beloved soda so tasty contains practically no nutritional value. And it helps contribute to ever expanding waistlines.

So many of us have resorted to drinking  lower  calorie versions of our favorite sodas. And guess what ? Even switching to no-calorie soft drinks is NOT doing the trick. Obesity continues to be a problem - especially amongst our youth.

Tell the soda makers to just keep their unhealthy drinks. And the packaging they use.

Decades ago glass containers were the norm. Today you would be hard pressed to find any soft-drinks in traditional glass bottles. ( There are some delicious exceptions - check out those fancy root beers in the glass bottles! )

Instead our soft drink industry has opted for less expensive, lighter weight plastic and cans. Unfortunately these lighter weight packages often contain a mix of dreaded and potentially dangerous chemical compounds. 

Way back in 2008, Canada became the first country in the world to ban the import and sale of polycarbonate baby bottles containing bisphenol A. ( BPA )

Bisphenol A is a chemical compound found in some hard, clear, lightweight plastics and resins. The materials are used in the production of various types of food and drink containers and to line some metal cans, including soft drink cans.

Critics of this potentially dangerous chemical say BPA is active in very small amounts.

"The chemical is known to cause significant biological effects at incredibly low levels," Rick Smith, executive director of Canada's Environmental Defence, told a Canadian News Station. "And this is not the only source of this chemical in our daily lives."

The answer is simple - if you want to live longer, and stay skinny or even lose some weight - Don't Drink Soda Pop! Or, enjoy your favorite soft drink in extreme moderation. Stick with nature's drink - good old refreshing water!

Losing weight - and keeping those extra pounds off is a simple matter of daily exercise and eating healthy foods!