Taken from:
http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1276127714233340.xml&coll=1Nikolita note: Yes, they really had to do a study about this. sweatdrop WTF happened to common sense?~
A new Penn State University study found that girls who drank soda by age 5 weren't as well nourished over the next decade as girls who hadn't touched the stuff by 5.
"There are healthier alternatives, like water and milk," said Laura Fiorito, a dietitian and researcher at Penn State's Center for Child Obesity Research.
The study followed 170 State College-area girls for 10 years, beginning at age 5.
The girls were divided into two groups -- non-soda drinkers, who had never drunk soda at 5, and soda drinkers, who had consumed it by 5.
Over the years, the soda drinkers had substantially lower intakes of nutrients, including fiber, protein, vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium, the researchers found.
The soda drinkers also took in much more sugar.
The researchers concluded that soda crowds out milk, which contains most of the nutrients the soda drinkers lacked.
"It's not wholly what they are consuming, it's what they are not consuming. They're not consuming milk, or enough milk," Fiorito said.
Still, the study also found that even the non-soda drinkers didn't get enough of some important nutrients, including calcium, which is needed for strong bones.
For instance, the Institute of Medicine recommends that 15-year-old girls receive at least 1,300 milligrams of calcium daily.
The soda drinkers averaged 767 milligrams daily, while the non-soda drinkers averaged 851.
Fiorito said the negative impacts of soda on children are well-known.
But she said one accomplishment of the study is that it provides evidence that parents who allow their child to consume soda at an early age are likely establishing a pattern of poor nutrition.
"We need to target parents and educate them about the health concerns over soda," she said.
A sampling of mothers loading up children and groceries outside a local store found them already wary of soda.
"Generally, we avoid soda, for multiple reasons," said Deborah Nissley, who has daughters age 6 and 9.
Nissley, of Camp Hill, said she permits her girls a root beer on "special occasions," but never with meals, when the family drinks water.
Nissley, 33, said avoiding soda involves planning.
She packs water before she and her daughters leave the house. That prevents having to buy a soda or other sugary drink for a thirsty child.
Roxanne Weller of Newport noted her 7-month-old is still drinking formula, and she had "never even thought about" if or when she would allow soda.
"I can tell you right now, she's not going to have a lot of soda, if any," said Weller, 42.
Her friend, Lisa Phillips of Duncannon, said she promoted milk over soda to her children, now ages 22, 20, and 14.
"When we went to McDonald's they got milk. Now, to this day, they don't drink much soda," said Phillips, 43.
Dr. Margaret Groff, a family doctor, describes parents arriving at the office with their child's baby bottle filled with a fruit drink. She becomes concerned that the juice is replacing milk, and views the sweet beverage as the gateway to soda.
Groff said she believes there's little room, if any, for soda in the diet of children.
"It should be a rare occasion, say as part of the punch at a birthday party, maybe. But not at the supper table, and not as a part of the child's regular intake," said Groff, who works at Silver Creek Family Health Center. "I think it's best if it's not in the house at all. ... I don't think it should be offered to kids at all."
Groff is a bit more open to soda for a youth of high school age, saying one soda with a weekend meal of pizza might be OK.
Drinking diet soda is no better, Groff said, adding that it has its own drawbacks and can crowd out nutritious beverages.
Much of the concern over soda and sugary drinks is related to childhood obesity.
In fact, pediatricians during the past decade have sounded an alarm over fruit juice-flavored drinks, noting they have little juice and much sugar.
They recommend only 100 percent fruit juice in small amounts, saying it's better to eat fresh fruits.
Yet the Penn State study found no significant difference in the body weights of the soda drinkers and non-soda drinkers.
However, parents were weighed at the start of the study. Parents of the soda-drinkers were heavier, which likely means their children were adopting their nutritional habits, the researchers said.
"How can you say no to your child if you are drinking it?" Fiorito said.
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