Maybe former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg was onto something when he tried to ban the consumption of large sodas (pop if you're Midwestern, coke if you're Southern) a couple of years ago. A recent study conducted by the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California showed that at least half of our favorite beverages contain way more fructose than glucose. If you were snoozing in chemistry 101, fructose and glucose are types of sugar. But what sets them apart is how they are broken down in our body. Glucose can be used for energy in our bodies. Fructose on the other hand can develop into a form fat (Triglycerides) and if leaked into the bloodstream, can cause clogged arteries. The Keck study says that our bodies aren't meant to process this dangerously high level of fructose and can cause some other serious health problems like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease. 

I stopped drinking soda years ago (I'd rather eat my calories than drink them, thank you very much!) and although this study confirms my worst suspicions, it's still not going to stop some people from drinking soda. The mantra of the soda lover is: "You can pry my Coca Cola from my cold, dead hands!" even though they know that soda is bad for you. Also, it's doubtful that states and cities across the nation will ban large quantities of soda since the New York ban was ruled unconstitutional. However, schools around the country have gotten rid of soda advertising and there have been many proposals and studies on taxing sodas. For the sake of comparison, over 50 years ago people believed cigarettes weren't that bad for you. But with each new study that proved cigarettes were actually unhealthy and the higher taxation followed, there has been a steady decline in the purchase of cigarettes over time. Will soda go the way of cigarettes? Regardless, these studies are altering public opinion on soda and that can lead to major changes-both personal and political.