Sugar-Free Soda and Snacks
By: Sydney Bowen
Article Summary:
This article, published on November 30, 2015, was written by Kate Bratskeir, a food and health editor of The Huffington Post. In summary, this article explains how added sugars wreak havoc on the enamel surrounding your teeth, however, studies have found that sugar-free and artificially sweetened alternatives might also have these detrimental effects. Researchers have found that beverages containing acidic additives and a low pH can damage tooth enamel, even if they do not contain sugar. These beverages have been found to soften tooth enamel by 30-50%, thus, putting the individual at a higher risk of bacterial infections and tooth decay. The citric acid and phosphoric acid often found in these products are typically the cause of erosion, however, these ingredients are also found in sugar-free foods, such as fruit-flavored candies which were found to also cause similar damage to tooth enamel. Overall, limiting sugar in your diet will help reduce tooth enamel erosion, but replacing these products with sugar-free soda and snacks will not prevent erosion. Thus, it is recommended to limit your intake of these types of foods and drinks by eating them in moderation.
Article Critique:
The author of this article, Kate Bratskeir, has become a viral food and health editor of the Huffington Post. She has written handfuls of articles for the magazine, ranging from articles about gluten to the importance of weight lifting. Also, the source of this article, The Huffington Post, has been a renowned online source of the latest news and popular blogs. The Huffington Post has been around for an entire decade, founded by Ariana Huffington in New York, NY. The Huffington Post offers a myriad of articles ranging from news covering politics to blogs noting the latest fashion. Thus, the site can offer something of interest to nearly anyone who chooses to read the articles. Finally, the information found in the article was very detailed and well written. The article was clear and concise, making the facts and overall message of the article easy to understand. Kate Bratskeir also included a reliable and knowledgeable reference in the article, Eric Reynolds, the CEO of the Oral Health Cooperative Research Center. Mr. Reynolds was able to explain that reducing sugar intake does not always eliminate the risk of tooth decay, instead, the chemicals found in sugar-free sodas and snacks can be equally damaging. This was a huge part of the article, explaining the importance of looking at other ingredients in food products, rather than only focusing on the amount of sugar added. However, eliminating these foods from your diet is often unrealistic, thus, the conclusion of this article was to look closely at other added ingredients, such as citric acid and phosphoric acid, while also limiting the intake of these foods to a minimal amount. The conclusion was not misleading, rather, it was quite straight forward, making this article a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about those deliciously sweet beverages and snacks.