Several hospitals in New Zealand have decided to stop selling soda and other sugary drinks.

Nelson and Wairau Hospitals will stop selling soda, diet soda, juices, flavored water and smoothies. That means patients and visitors will only have a choice of water, tea, coffee or milk. Essentially, no pre-packaged drinks containing sugar or artificial sweeteners will be available.

In 2014, the decision was made to eliminate sugar-sweetened beverages because of their detrimental effects on oral health, as well as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Recently the ban was extended to artificially sweetened beverages, smoothies and juices because they can also have detrimental health effects. For example, one small smoothie sold in the hospital café actually contained 14 teaspoons of sugar.

The World Health Organisation recommends that adults consume no more than six teaspoons of sugar per day, while children should not have more than three.

Nelson Marlborough District Health Board principal dental officer Dr Rob Beaglehole has made some interesting statements: "If a child had one of those smoothies with 14 teaspoons of sugar that's almost five days of sugar in one hit. Artificially-sweetened beverages, smoothies and juices encouraged sugar cravings, and sugar dependence. High levels of acidity in the drinks caused dental erosion”.

And Dr Beaglehole’s best quote: “As a hospital we don't believe we should be selling sickness”.

How wonderful to have such a forward thinking and proactive doctor.

Many people unknowingly consume a great deal of sugar each day because it is hidden in so many seemingly healthy foods and drinks. A large percentage of overweight people have insulin resistance, and for them, consuming sugar fuels hunger and cravings, making it impossible to stick to a healthy diet for any length of time. Smoothies and juices will be banned because most commercially available varieties are extremely high in sugar. Please remember that your own home made juices and smoothies can be highly nutritious and completely free of sugar.

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