FOOD VALUE OF SOFT DRINKS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 343, 10 March 1922, Page 5

FOOD VALUE OF SOFT DRINKS.

Professor L. B Allyn, American food chemist, has been lecturing on the nutritive value of soft drinks, lie declares that soft drinks have, on the average, about 9 per cent, of carbohydrate matter in form of sugars and various extractives, and m some eases soluble protein. Approaching the matter from a different angle, w pointed out that an 8-oz. bottle of soft ill-ink carries about 87 calorics, or about the amount contained in an average rcstau rant portion of sliced banana; 87 calories is declared to bo no small matter, and thcie are plenty of foods which, pound for pound, do not show a proportion more than that. Furthermore, soft drinks have other n.-c.-than the furnishing of heat units to ho body. Many of them carry no inconsiderable amounts of organic or fruit acids such a 9 citric, tartaric, malic, phosphoric, etc., all of which are utilised by tbo body m maintaining what is known as the acid alkali balance. Most fruit acids foim alkaline, bases in the body, thus tending to relieve acid conditions, -Ihoso dunks carrying pure flavouring materials pw-foim an important function as flavour, though its conclirnental effects acts as a gen.e appetiser and tends to promote a more thorough and easy digestion of food, bolt drinks of the bitter or bitter-sweet varieties almost without exception, exhibit m)W tonic properties and induce a sense ot invigoration or well-being. Even the carbon dioxide, with which all sparkling beverages are charged, is not without its nutritive significance. Reasonable quantities of carbonated beverages exert a tonic effect upon the mucous lining of the stomach, and m addition have slight diuretic action. 1 hey relieve thirst more readily than pain water of corresponding temperature. 1 lace your orders for soft drinks with Dixon s Ltd FiDhorbcrt street, Palmemon North. -Advt.