5/21/2007
The idea of a healthy soft drink may sound like an oxymoron. But to soda manufacturers, it's the hottest trend. They’re hoping to perk up sagging soda sales with new "healthy" soft drinks. There are caffeine-free, no-calorie beverages laced with vitamins and minerals, like Diet Coke Plus and Tava from Pepsi. "Zero-calorie" sodas are aimed at consumers who don’t like the idea of a "diet" drink. The truth is that artificially sweetened soft drinks – even those fortified with vitamins and minerals -- are anything but natural and healthy. Most doctors agree that the nutrients we are lacking in our diets include calcium, potassium, folate, and vitamin D. And you can’t get them from a can. You’re better off having a glass of milk or drinking 100% juice.
Here’s something for parents. If you’ve wondered about your child’s speech development, mark this on your calendar. St. John’s will be offering a pediatric speech assessment tomorrow, May 22nd from 8:30-11:30 at our Health Connection location inside Northpark Mall. Free screenings will be offered to children ages 2 to 5 to check speech and language development. Registration is required, so call St. John`s Referral One at 625-2000 or log onto stj.com.
