Whether soda or juice, study participants ate worse when sugary beverages accompanied meals, according to new studies reviewed in the journal Appetite:

The paper featured separate studies. One involved a survey of 60 young U.S. adults (ages 19-23) about the role of food-and-drink pairings. The second involved experiments with 75 U.S. children (ages 3-5) to determine the role of drinks and vegetable consumption. The same preschoolers were tested on different days under differing scenarios involving drinks served with vegetables.

Sugary Beverages Encourage Junk Food and Discourage Vegetable Consumption

Soda drinkers in the survey with older participants preferred salty, calorie-dense foods over healthier choices with their drinks and children ate more vegetables when drinking water than when drinking juice.

"Our taste preferences are heavily influenced by repeated exposure to particular foods and drinks," T. Bettina Cornwell of the University of Oregon told Science Daily. "This begins early through exposure to meals served at home and by meal combinations offered by many restaurants. Our simple recommendation is to serve water with all meals. Restaurants easily could use water as their default drink in kids' meal combos and charge extra for other drink alternatives."

Sugary Beverages or Juice Between Meals Rots Teeth, Say Dentists

Another investigation by The Sunday Telegraph of London, England, came out with the opposite advice. Because of the high acid and sugar levels in most juices and smoothies, consumption between meals creates a perfect environment for tooth decay. Dentists warn that children should not try to meet 5-a-day vegetable and fruit consumption recommendations with juice.

Dr Kathy Harley, dean of the dental faculty at the Royal College of Surgeons, said many parents encouraged their children to drink smoothies and juices every day, unaware that the combination of high acid levels and sugar content can destroy young teeth.

... Dr Harley said 50 per cent of five-year-olds now have signs of damage to their tooth enamel caused by excess acid in their diet.

Because acid exposure weakens tooth enamel, dentists interviewed suggested drinking water after juice but not immediately brushing teeth. Dr. Harley explained: "The only healthy drinks for teeth are milk and water. Children are having fruit drinks and smoothies several times a day, when they these should be considered as a treat, something to have once a week."

Eat Fruit, Drink Water

The combined message of the two reports is simple: eat fruit, drink water. Big Berkey Water Filters would love to help you ensure your water is clean and tasty.

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