The study, published in PLOS Global Public Health, ultimately identified "significant relationships between lead and damaging patterns of behavior" – even when lead blood concentrations were very low. While prior research has found an association between lead exposure and criminal behavior at an entire-population level, this is the first study to examine the individual level of exposure and its effects.
Lead study author Maria Jose Talayero Schettino and her colleagues conducted a systematic review of 17 previous studies that in one way or another addressed the possible connection between individual lead exposure and antisocial behaviors, including crime.
To account for potential bias, the authors used a tool called ROBINS-E – shorthand for Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Exposure – that helped them determine which studies were the most statistically robust. It allowed them to pinpoint factors like confounding bias, selection bias, exposure misclassification, missing data, outcome measurement issues and problems with reporting.
In a statement, Talayero Schettino said the evidence they found pointed in the direction of lead exposure being associated with biological effects in children that have long-term behavioral consequences. She emphasized that there is no safe level of lead exposure for children and countries should extend all efforts to protect children and pregnant persons from lead contamination.
According to the lead study author, more individual-level data must be collected to bolster the connection between childhood lead exposure and adulthood criminal behavior. She urged world leaders "to implement policies to prevent lead exposure."
"Policy action to prevent lead exposure is of utmost importance as our research shows an excess risk for criminal behavior in adulthood exists when an individual is exposed to lead in utero or during childhood," the authors said in a joint statement, adding that preventing lead exposure is crucial to safeguard public health and promote a safer society for all.
People poisoned by lead from different sources
Contact with lead can cause cardiac issues, kidney damage, immune system dysfunction, reproductive difficulties and impaired brain function and development in children.
Exposure can come from many sources, such as industrial waste, recycling batteries, paints with lead content, various food sources and household products, such as certain children's toys, cookware and ceramics.
Cookware is of special concern – such as pottery from Asia, aluminum cookware from Africa that might have excess lead and artisanal pottery from Mesoamerica that is not certified to be lead-free.
For years, health experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have warned about the risks and serious health impact associated with lead poisoning in kids.
Children can be exposed to lead through old paint, contaminated dust and drinking water that passes through lead pipes. Even levels below the CDC standard may have adverse impacts on children, who can absorb four to five times as much lead as adults exposed to the same source.
Multiple studies have shown that avocado leaves are full of beneficial nutrients. Research also suggests that avocado leaves are a promising natural therapeutic alternative for restoring damaged organs.
Avocado leaf extract and phenolic compounds
In a recent study, researchers found that avocado leaf extracts helped repair heart, kidney and liver injuries. Details of the study were published in the International Journal of Phytomedicine and Phytotherapy.
For the study, researchers turned air-dried avocado leaves into powder and mixed it with 80 percent ethanol for three days. They then freeze-dried the mixture containing the avocado leaf extract.
The researchers observed 40 rats that were randomly divided into eight groups. Within two weeks, the rat groups received different treatments:
Groups one and two were given water.
Groups three and four received an avocado leaf extract.
Group five received silymarin, a supplement often used as a supportive treatment for gallbladder and liver problems.
Group six was given rifampicin, a medicine used to treat blood infections, leprosy and tuberculosis.
Groups seven and eight received rifampicin and the avocado leaf extract.
The researchers also reported that the avocado leaf extract presented fewer side effects compared to rifampicin, which caused significant oxidative stress on tissues in the heart and liver.
The researchers believe that the effectiveness of avocado leaves could be due to disease-inhibiting phenolic compounds and flavonoids which have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties.
The study suggests that avocado leaves are a potential alternative medicine for managing disorders affecting several major organs.
Natural remedy for lead poisoning
In another study, researchers discovered that avocado leaves can help treat lead poisoning in the brain and support tissue regeneration in the cerebellum.
Researchers observed animal subjects and found that after exposure to lead acetate, albino rats exhibited signs of aggression, inflammation and irritability.
However, their healing process improved significantly after the rats were given the avocado leaf extract. The topical application of the extract to wounds helped speed up recovery, resulting in complete healing after six days.
The avocado leaf extract also helped protect against lead acetate toxicity in the cerebellum.
Using microscopic examination of tissue samples, the researchers found that lead acetate caused considerable changes to the structure of the cerebellum, but the avocado leaf extract helped damaged tissues regenerate.
Anti-diabetic properties of avocado leaves
A recent study reported that avocado leaves may also have therapeutic potential against Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers found that avocado leaves promoted the regeneration of pancreatic cells and suppressed enzyme activity during carbohydrate metabolism, which are anti-diabetic characteristics.
Avocado leaves contain significantly more disease-inhibiting phenolic compounds than avocado fruit, making them a valuable option for managing diabetes naturally.
Avocado has 145.7 milligrams gallic acid equivalents of phenolic compounds per gram (mg GAE/g), while avocado leaves contain 178.95 mg GAE/g.
A separate study also found that avocado leaves can help reduce high blood pressure. Researchers reported that this could be due to the presence of the flavonoid quercetin, which is also a powerful natural antioxidant.
If you have both diabetes and high blood pressure, you face as much as four times the risk of developing heart disease compared to someone without either health problem.
Several studies in hypertensive rats have shown that quercetin has a diuretic effect and increases urine volume, which helps reduce blood pressure.
Healthy ways to enjoy avocados and avocado leaves
Experts recommend drinking tea made from organic avocado leaves to enjoy their health benefits.
To make avocado tea, boil the leaves and steep them in water. You can add natural sweeteners and spices of your choice before drinking. You can also purchase organic avocado tea from farmers’ markets.
If you can't find avocado leaves or avocado tea, here are some healthy and delicious ways to add avocados to various dishes and beverages:
Serve avocados with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. You can also use other seasonings like balsamic vinegar, cayenne pepper, lemon juice or paprika.
Add diced avocados while cooking scrambled eggs. Add the avocados while the eggs are halfway cooked to avoid burning them.
Replace butter with pureed avocado and serve it on toast.
If you don't have mayonnaise, use avocado as a binder ingredient for egg, chicken or tuna salad.
Add avocados to a salad for a more filling meal.
Use avocado to make soup, or add chunks of avocado to other soups.
Use avocados to make a green smoothie. Combine avocado with leafy green vegetables like kale and fruits like banana, berries or pineapple. To make a protein-packed smoothie, add protein powder, Greek yogurt or milk.
New research from King's Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine has found that eating a handful of blueberries every day – preferably wild, organic, or strictly pesticide-free blueberries – is enough to lower blood pressure and boost memory and brain cognition.
Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN), the paper, which was contributed to by researchers from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, involved a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial of 61 healthy men and women between the ages of 65 and 90 who were given either a daily beverage made with 26 grams of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder, the equivalent of about 178 grams of whole blueberries, or a placebo.
Over 12 weeks, researchers evaluated the health of both groups, discovering that the wild blueberry group experienced better memory; an improved reaction time on attention tasks; and lowered blood pressure.
Compared to the placebo group, the wild blueberry group also saw increased flow mediated dilation (FMD), which is linked to a substantially decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.
"This study is the first of its kind and the results suggest that a daily intake of wild blueberries could help lower people's risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering their blood pressure and improving blood vessel function," said Dr. Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, one of the study's authors.
"We know from previous research that there are potential advantages from consuming blueberries, but this study went further by exploring how a daily and dietary achievable measure of blueberries could benefit our cognitive and cardiovascular health simultaneously in a healthy older population."
Anthocyanins, the pigments that give blueberries their blue and purple color, believed to boost cognitive function and vascular health
Researchers believe that a key component in blueberries called anthocyanins, which give them their blue and purple pigment, are among the primary constituents in blueberries that make them a type of "superfood" offering these powerful benefits.
"We think the blue pigments in blueberries, the anthocyanins, which are a type of polyphenols also present in other foods such as strawberries, raspberries, red grapes and purple vegetables, are behind these effects as increases in their metabolites were seen in the urine of the volunteers after 12 weeks consumption," Rodriguez-Mateos further commented.
Prof. Claire Williams, Chair of the Neuroscience Department at the University of Reading, also commented that it is clear from the study that wild blueberries are beneficial both for cognitive function and vascular health.
"The group who had the wild blueberry powder showed signs of better memory and greater mental flexibility when completing cognitive tasks," she said. "This is consistent with what we already know about the health benefits of anthocyanin-rich foods. It points to an important role of polyphenols in healthy aging."
The study was, in fact, funded by the Wild Blueberry Association of North America. So, while the paper is not necessarily without bias, it does support the findings of many other studies looking at anthocyanins and other berry nutritional components that support strong and vibrant health.
"I eat a minimum of 4 oz. of blueberries daily 365 days a year," one commenter wrote about how blueberries are already part of his daily health regimen.
"My wife and I have them every day with a banana, OJ and yoghurt," wrote another.
"I have blueberries in my oatmeal every morning along with cinnamon," added another about how he chooses to eat his blueberries and other health foods for breakfast.
Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test (DART) is helping bring awareness to food safety and quality control issues across the food supply. Food manufacturers may deceive consumers by using additives and fillers in common food and beverage items. Poor quality controls or natural processes can lead to unintentional adulteration of common food products. As food and transportation costs soar, manufacturers are more likely to shrink package sizes and use fillers to make their products go farther in the marketplace. Fillers may be used to water down a product or cheapen it, making it unsafe for the consumer, especially when allergens or heavy metals are involved. Here are some simple tests to check for adulteration of food, beverages, and spices.
Milk may be thinned with water or contaminated with starch or detergent
To test for water in milk, put a drop of milk on a polished slanting surface. Pure milk will either stay put or flow slowly, leaving a white trail behind. Milk that is adulterated with water will flow immediately without leaving a mark.
To test for detergent in milk, take 5 to 10 ml of the milk sample with an equal amount of water and shake the contents thoroughly. If the milk is adulterated with detergent, it forms a dense lather. Pure milk will form a very thin foam layer due to agitation.
To detect starch in milk, boil 2-3 ml of the milk sample with 5ml of water. Then, cool the solution and add 2-3 drops of tincture of iodine. If a blue color forms, starch is present.
Oils and Fats are often adulterated
To check for adulterated coconut oil, prepare the sample in a transparent glass and place the glass in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. After refrigeration, coconut oil solidifies. If other oils are present, they will remain as a separate layer.
To check for tri-ortho-cresyl-phosphate (TOCP) in cooking oils, prepare 2ml of the sample oil, then add on a little amount of solid yellow butter. If a red color forms immediately, TOCP is present in the oil.
To see if potatoes are used to water down butter, prepare ½ teaspoon of ghee/butter in a transparent glass bowl. Then, add 2-3 drops of tincture of iodine. If a blue color forms, then mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and other starches were used to thin out the butter.
Honey, grains, turmeric, and other spices are often adulterated
Insects, straw, seeds, pebble, dust, weevils, and rodent hair may contaminate common grains. To see if there is any extraneous matter in food grains, first place a small quantity of sample on a glass plate. The impurities can be detected visually.
To detect the presence of sugar solutions in honey products, first prepare a transparent glass of water. Then, add a drop of honey to the glass. If the drop of honey disperses in water, it indicates the presence of added sugar.
Lead chromate and artificial colors are often found in turmeric products. To detect for lead chromate, start by adding a small quantity of turmeric whole in a transparent glass of water. If the turmeric is pure, it will not leave any color. Adulterated turmeric appears to be bright in color and leaves color immediately in water.
Other common problems that can be detected include: sawdust in powdered spices, argemone seeds in mustard seeds, chalk powder in sugar, excess bran in wheat flour, artificial colors in chili powder, saw dust in chili powder, grass seed in cumin seed, rhodamine B in sweet potato, chalk in common salt, maize cob in saffron, papaya seeds in black pepper, artificial color on green peas, clay in coffee powder, and iron fillings in tea leaves.
There are many things that Aldi does right, from the discounted groceries to the random yet tempting impulse buys calling out from the "Aisle of Shame." If you had any doubts about the chain's popularity, consider its ambitious expansion plans for this year. Aldi just announced last month that it intends to open 120 new stores across the United States by the end of 2023 in order to meet the growing demand from shoppers.
"Our growth is led by our customers, and they continue to want more Aldi locations coast-to-coast," Aldi U.S. CEO Jason Hart said in the announcement regarding the new stores.
Despite this evident favor among customers, even some of the most dedicated Aldi fans have acknowledged that not every product at this retailer is completely stellar. Like with any major grocery chain, shoppers aren't afraid to speak up when items are inconsistent or even downright bad.
Take note, taste preferences can vary by the person and food quality can also vary by location or region, so some customers may not have any issues with items that others criticize. The foods that are included in this list are all products that racked up multiple complaints from customers, indicating that any taste and quality problems aren't just a one-off issue.
From iffy meats to some complaint-plagued snacks, here are the six foods you should avoid at Aldi, according to customers.
1
Fresh Produce
Ilze_Lucero / Shutterstock
While some Aldi shoppers swear by the chain's fresh produce, others say that it can be very "hit or miss." Customers have reported issues like fly-riddled packs of mushrooms, rotten potatoes, "slimy salads," bananas that quickly turn from green to overripe, and fast-spoiling fruits and veggies.
"Their fruits and vegetables are notoriously mediocre and need to be eaten immediately as well," one Redditor wrote in a thread about Aldi.
Aldi's fresh produce is locally grown, so any quality issues could be traced back to local suppliers instead of indicating a widespread defect with the chain's fruit and veggies. Still, you might want to take note from other Aldi customers who make sure to inspect the produce thoroughly before adding it to their carts. Or, look elsewhere for your produce, if there's consistent quality issues at your local stores.
Aldi shoppers certainly aren't shy about their (ahem) negative feelings about the chain's canned Corned Beef Hash, which is sold under a private label brand called Brookdale.
In the words of one critic: "That canned corned beef hash was the worst canned food product I ever purchased in my entire life – and I'm 73."
The main issue with the heavily criticized product seems to be the texture. Customers likened it to "sludge" and "wet mush." Plus, they said it's heavy on grease. As a result, many have completely sworn off Aldi's version of this breakfast staple.
"I felt like it had been mixed up with the dogfood at the cannery," one Redditor wrote in reference to the product. "I won't be making that mistake again."
3
Certain Meats
Jeff Bukowski / Shutterstock
Like with Aldi's fresh produce, there are many customers who would go to bat for Aldi's meat and others who say they avoid it entirely.
One common complaint revolves around Aldi's chicken breasts, which customers say tend to be weird-textured and even "a bit funky." With these complaints in mind, it should come as no surprise that customers tend to avoid that problem-plagued poultry.
"The last time I bought fresh breasts they were just weird texturally to a point that put us off chicken for a month," a shopper commented on a Reddit thread.
Multiple customers also complained that they can't buy Aldi's marinated meats because they are too salty.
A great alfredo sauce should be creamy, cheesy, and salty, but Aldi customers describe the chain's take on this popular pasta sauce as "horrible" and "off-tasting."
Though they didn't specify the brand, these shoppers are presumably referring to Priano, a private label brand sold at Aldi. Apparently, some Aldi customers have been inspired to try their hand at making the sauce at home so they wouldn't have to rely on the grocer's version.
"Aldi alfredo is teaching us how to do alfredo from scratch and in that way, it provides a valuable service to the community," a customer said.
One customer even said that the sauce was one of the only products they would never buy again from Aldi.
5
Bread
Joni Hanebutt / Shutterstock
If you have a large family that has no trouble quickly downing a whole loaf of bread, you might never have any issues with the selection at Aldi. However, if you live in a household where loaves tend to linger, then perhaps you should shop elsewhere. Customers say the grocer's bread has some shelf-life issues and often goes bad after just a few days.
While some people say they can get around this issue by storing it in the freezer, those who prefer not to freeze bread may have no other option than avoiding Aldi's bread, if they don't want a loaf that will spoil quickly.
"If your family will eat it within a week you'll be fine. But as a single person I usually don't make it through the loaf before it goes bad (and I don't like refrigerating or freezing bread)," a Redditor wrote.
6
Certain Snacks
Joni Hanebutt / Shutterstock
If you're not all that familiar with Aldi, just know that one of the ways the retailer saves customers money is by offering many off-brand versions of the name-brand products you'll see at other chains. The chips and snacks are no exception to this rule.
But while Aldi may be aiming to mimic the taste of classic grocery aisle chips like Doritos and Pringles with some of its private label knockoffs, customers say the chain misses the mark with certain products. Customers have complained about Aldi's versions of Doritos, Cheetos, and Tostitos Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips. which generally fall under the private label brand Clancy's.
Some have even completely sworn off Aldi's off-brand snacks.
"I just can't get into any of the Clancy's brand chips….they just taste off," a customer said.
So, what's popping in thesodaindustry? Soft drinks remain one of the most popular drink categories in America, making up almost19% of beverage consumptionacross the country—second only to bottledwater. And, according to the CDC,nearly 50% of adultsdrink at least one sugar-sweetened beverage like soda every day.
Top dogs Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Keurig Dr. Pepper still rule the soda world with their notoriously extensive collections of brands and flavors. And, pop continues to dominate grocery stores, restaurants, and even major events like professional sports games. But, what's most important to note, is that many soft drinks in the United States are still as unhealthy as ever—a problem which has been bubbling up and spilling over for quite some time.
"Soda is basically just water with added colors, flavors, sugars and sometimes caffeine, so as usual, we take perfect foods like water and turn them into liquid sugar bombs that can be quickly consumed without actually contributing anything with nutrients or health benefits whatsoever," explains registered dietitian Laura Burak, MS, RD, founder of GetNaked Nutrition and author of Slimdown with Smoothies.
Burak also explains that drinking soda is typically synonymous with a more unhealthy lifestyle, and many people who drink these carbonated beverages are drinking them regularly and in large amounts. Megan Hilbert, a registered dietitian and nutritionist with Top Nutrition Coaching, agrees that portion control is one of the largest issues when it comes to soft drinks.
"In moderation, soda can be enjoyed especially with other meals that help slow down the intake of blood glucose, but when consumed often (even a couple of times a week) soda can impact our bodies ability to regulate blood sugar properly and lead to insulin resistance," says Hilbert.
"It also can impact the health of our teeth since soda is a double whammy of high acid and high sugar, neither of which are good for enamel. Artificial sweeteners also aren't much better since their impacts have been called into question and have been shown to negatively impact our gut health, increase sugar cravings, and even lead to weight gain in the long term."
Besides sugar and artificial sweeteners, you should also look out for potentially harmful additives like phosphoric acid, sodium benzoate, and artificial dyes/coloring like Yellow 5 or Red 40 in your soda brands. Newer, reinvented sodas like the prebiotic soda Olipop or botanical-based Ghia Le Spritz aim to cut out these ingredients, but Burak is still not convinced. She admits she would still recommend just water or club soda with a splash of juice or fruit over anything else.
In terms of older, more classic sodas on the market, there are a handful which are particularly problematic. Read on to find out which make the list and should be avoided to protect your health.
PER SERVING (20 FL OZ): 290 cal, 105 mg sodium, 77 g carbs, 77 g sugar (77 g added sugar)
The toxic slime coloring of Mountain Dew alone makes it look like a substance that should only be handled by someone in a hazmat suit—and in reality, that might not be such a terrible idea.
The classic soda's artificial hue is actually derived from something called Yellow 5 (or tartrazine) which is a synthetic food dye commonly found in processed foods in the U.S. Other countries have limited or even banned its use. Several studies have found that prolonged ingestion of the dye could trigger carcinogenesis—the formation of cancer. Plus, artificial colorings including Yellow 5 have been linked to hyperactivity and other behavioral changes in children.
What's worse is that other Mountain Dew variations add even more questionable dyes into the mix. Take Code Red Mountain Dew for example. The jolting spinoff combines Red 40 and Blue 1 on top of Yellow 5.
Up until a few years ago, brominated vegetable oil (BVO) was also a main ingredient in the soft drink. BVO is another harmful additive which has been linked to various health concerns such as neurological issues due to the bromine it contains. While BVO has since popped off the Mountain Dew ingredients list, the drink is still chock full with plenty of other less-than-ideal ingredients that are sure to do more than just "tickle your innards" (per Mountain Dew's slogan from the '60s). Each 20-ounce bottle of the fizzy drink contains 290 calories, 77 grams of sugar, and 105 mg of sodium.
Last, but not least, have you heard of something called Mountain Dew Mouth? That's the name dentists have given to the tooth decay, cavities, and other dental problems that can arise from drinking too much pop such as–you guessed it–Mountain Dew.
With all this in mind, it sounds like it's best to avoid the entire Mountain Dew family all together—trust us, Just Dew It.
PER SERVING (20 FL OZ): 290 cal, 80 mg sodium, 78 g carbs, 78 g sugar (78 g added sugar)
Despite its obvious health defects, Pepsi's Mountain Dew captured Americans' hearts from the beginning and quickly became one of the top-selling soda brands in the country. This success is what spurred Coca-Cola to invent its own recreation of the drink, which it dubbed Mello Yello.
Not surprisingly, Coke's neon yellow soda shares many of the same attributes as Mountain Dew, and is just as hazardous. Mello Yello also gets its coloring from Yellow 5 and packs 290 calories in a 20-ounce bottle. It further contains 78 grams of added sugar—that's over 150% of your daily intake recommendation.
Mello Yello additionally has a high level of caffeine, at about 85 milligrams per 20-ounce bottle, which will have you feeling anything but mellow.
PER SERVING (20 FL OZ): 290 cal, 90 mg sodium, 76 g carbs, 75 g sugar (75 g added sugar)
Of course, Keurig Dr. Pepper also holds a seat at the citrus-flavored soda table with its own rendition called Sun Drop. In fact, it's actually older than both Mello Yello and Mountain Dew, with roots dating back to the late 1920s, according to Southern Living.
Sun Drop matches both Mountain Dew and Mello Yello in terms of total calories and has just a little less sugar. The soda also contains additives like high fructose corn syrup and Yellow 5, and actually blows the other two brands out of the water when it comes to caffeine content, with 106 milligrams in every 20-ounce bottle.
But, what's most concerning, is that while both Coke and Pepsi have backed off from using BVO in their soft drinks, Sun Drop still contains the additive. It's mixed into the beverage because it helps to keep citrus flavors from separating out. But, it's been found that bromine–a main ingredient in BVO–can irritate your skin and other mucous membranes, and extended use can even lead to symptoms like headaches, impaired balance, or memory loss, according to Middlesex Health.
On top of that, drops of sodium benzoate and something called ester gum—an oil-soluble food additive that comes from refined wood rosin and food-grade glycerol–can also be found in Sun Drop.
PER SERVING (20 FL OZ): 250 cal, 55 mg sodium, 69 g carbs, 69 g sugar (69 g added sugar)
Pepsi and its arch nemesis Coca-Cola have always gone head-to-head, or can-to-can, constantly duking it out. But, there are a couple nutritional categories where Coke currently has Pepsi edged out by just a hair. Each 20-ounce Pepsi bottle contains a smidge more sugar—69 grams compared to Coke's 65. It has a few more calories, too: 250 calories compared to 240 for Coke.
Pepsi also contains more caffeine overall—that's great for those looking for a little extra umph, but not so great for your body in the long run.
The rivals also share a nearly identical ingredient list, with one important exception: Pepsi contains citric acid while Coke does not. Citric acid is naturally occurring in citrus fruits like lemons. But, the kind which is typically found in packaged foods for preservative purposes is known as manufactured citric acid, and comes from an unsavory source: black mold. The FDA has classified this additive as "generally recognized as safe" for consumption—but still something to think about next time you pop the tab on that Pepsi can.
High fructose corn syrup and caramel coloring are also key players on Pepsi's ingredient list. In high doses, caramel coloring has been found to be carcinogenic. And, as for high fructose corn syrup, there are a myriad of possible negative side effects. The artificial sugar has been linked to diabetes and heart disease. It also increases your risk for weight gain, and experts widely believe that high fructose corn syrup is a major contributor to the obesity epidemic.
PER SERVING (12 FL OZ): 150 cal, 55 mg sodium, 40 g carbs, 39 g sugar
This is certainly not what the doctor ordered. Dr. Pepper commonly boasts its 23 special flavors including almond, caramel, blackberry, vanilla, nutmeg, and even things like carrot and tomato, making the drink sound like a rejuvenating medley of fresh ingredients. But, the reality is, most of these tastes are not authentic, and are instead cooked up in a lab.
Similar to other top soda brands Coke and Pepsi, Dr. Pepper's actual ingredient list consists of high fructose corn syrup and caramel coloring. This coloring agent is, again, used for nothing other than aesthetics. But, it has been linked to hypertension, liver damage, and reduced white blood cell counts.
The doctor doses out another secret ingredient as well: phosphoric acid. This compound gives Dr. Pepper its tartness. But, it's important to note that this ingredient is also commonly used in fertilizers, detergents, and other cleaning supplies.
Besides just sounding unappetizing, phosphoric acid has also been shown to have a negative affect on your kidneys and puts you at higher risk for heart disease, decreased bone density, and even osteoporosis. This is particularly a concern for women—a group that may already have mixed feelings toward the Dr. Pepper brand after the company's "It's not for women" campaign back in 2011. The campaign was meant to loop more men into the diet soda market, with a new 10-calorie Dr. Pepper. But, you can likely see why it wasn't well received.
PER SERVING (20 FL OZ): 290 cal, 105 mg sodium, 79 g carbs, 79 g sugar (79 g added sugar)
Cream soda is like the dessert of all soft drinks. And fittingly, it contains just as many, if not more, calories and sugar than many of the sweets you'd find on the market.
Mug's own velvety version specifically contains 290 calories, 105 mg of sodium (the same as Mountain Dew), and 79 grams of sugar per 20-ounce bottle. That level of sugar is equivalent to eating almost three whole Snickers bars or an entire large hot fudge sundae from Dairy Queen.
A dangerous trifecta of sodium benzoate, high fructose corn syrup, and caramel coloring is also included in Mug Cream Soda's chemical makeup. Not to mention something called yucca mohave extract makes the list. This is a plant extract which is commonly used in cosmetics and as an animal feed additive. Yucca has been given the thumbs up by the FDA, suggesting it's safe for consumption. But it certainly sounds "yuccy," doesn't it?
And, Mug Root Beer–the brand's other popular product line–isn't much better. The root beer contains many of these same ingredients as its cream soda cousin, but does have a slightly lower calorie and sugar count.
PER SERVING (20 FL OZ): 270 cal, 110 mg sodium, 74 g carbs, 73 g sugar (73 g added sugar)
Sunkist's bright packaging with dew droplets and pictures of juicy oranges may trick you into believing the drink is made from fresh fruit and therefore can't be that bad. But, that couldn't be farther from the truth. Orange sodas like Sunkist are actually one of the worst soft drink flavors you can pick for the reasons we're about to disclose.
A quick peek at the Sunkist label reveals that the word "orange" is nowhere to be found. And, with no real oranges to give it that neon orange coloring something else must be at play. Well, that would be a combination of Yellow 6 and Red 40–both chemical dyes which are highly controversial.
And, in Sunkist's other fruity flavors, there's more of the same. To achieve the purple coloring of the brand's grapeless Grape flavor, Red 40 and Blue 1 are thrown together. Red 40 and yellow 5 work together to create Peach, and Cherry Limeade is made from Red 40 and Yellow 5. You get the idea.
In all variations you will also find high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, and sodium benzoate as well. And while all flavors are, without a doubt, unhealthy, the top two worst flavors the brand offers are Fruit Punch and Pineapple due to their ridiculously inflated sugar content. Sunkist Pineapple holds 84 grams of sugar and Sunkist Fruit Punch stands at 80 grams–putting the drinks 320 and 300 calories per 20-ounce bottle, respectively.
8
Crush
PER SERVING (20 FL OZ): 320 cal, 110 mg sodium, 86 g carbs, 85 g sugar (85 g added sugar)
Crush got its start as an orange soda—and you already know the problems associated with those including food dyes and a lack of any kind of nutritional value. But, where the brand really went off the deep end is with its pineapple flavor, which is one of the most high-calorie and sugar-filled sodas on the market.
Just like Sunkist's pineapple-flavored soda, the Crush version also has a stomach-churning 320 calories. But, it surpasses the Sunkist version with a total of 85 grams of sugar. That's 169% of your daily recommended amount.
The usual suspects appear on Crush soda's nutrition labels including high fructose corn syrup and sodium benzoate. Plus, Crush Zero Sugar Orange comes with a few extra surprises like malic acid, the preservative potassium benzoate, aspartame, sodium citrate, and acesulfame potassium. To call it a science experiment wouldn't be too far off.
