As obesity rates soar, Coca-Cola's 146-flavor mega soda dispenser gains popularity

Friday, April 25, 2014 by: Antonia
Tags: obesity rates, Coca-Cola, soda dispenser

(NaturalNews) The debate over soda and public health is a hot topic. Not too long ago, there was a big to-do over New York City Mayor Bloomberg's attempt to help improve public health by banning people from purchasing large-sized sodas in restaurants. The ban has since been overruled, with a judge calling the mayor's idea "arbitrary and capricious" and many others feeling that such a ban would not mesh with the personal freedoms that people deserve.

However, considering that sugar-laden sodas are one of the main contributors to the obesity epidemic, it's easy to understand where Mayor Bloomberg was coming from. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, two out of every three adults and one out of every three U.S. children are either overweight or obese. With an average of up to 18 teaspoons of sugar in a 20-ounce cup, it's no wonder that soda is referred to as "liquid candy" and that the majority of people struggle with their weight.

Soda consumption is indeed problematic, and the "diet" labeling isn't any better. In fact, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition discovered a link between diet drinks and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Introducing the 146-flavor soda dispenser

So, what does Coca-Cola do? They introduce the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, a mega-sugar hub that dispenses over 145 unique soda flavors and combinations. With apps, games and words that illicit a sense of fun and control, it resonates with younger crowds. Heck, with the saying on their website, "Fountain of You" (cleverly summoning Ponce de Leon memories), perhaps they're attempting to encourage older folks looking to recapture their pop-sipping and 8-track-playing days of yesteryear as well.

Have at it, the conglomerate says, and have at it is precisely what's happening.

Many people such as Gabriana Wallace, a biochemistry major at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, enjoys the massive soda dispenser, saying, "You get to be a little adventurous."

Elsewhere, ninth-grader Abigail Vickers said, "It makes it more exciting to go to a restaurant."

It's fast-growing, already in several hundred restaurant chains like Burger King, Five Guys, Wendy's and Moe's Southwest Grill. It's even becoming an exciting notion at universities and many other places.

Sadly, while this may be helping Coca-Cola's bottom line, it's harming the health of a society already at risk.

We encourage people to enjoy water and foods and drinks with only natural sugars.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://www.usatoday.com

http://www.coca-colafreestyle.com

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu

http://science.naturalnews.com

About the author:
A science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition, Antonia has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. >>> Click here to see more by Antonia