Studies taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website (www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/sugar-sweetened-beverages-intake.html) of the twenty-three states and Washington, DC that were surveyed, seven of those states showed that 35% or more adults were daily Sugar Sweetened Beverage consumers. Kentucky was one of the seven states. A quote taken from the CDC website states: 

 “Frequently drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with 

 weight gain/obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, 

 non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities, and gout, a 

 type of arthritis.”

A monthly women’s group participated in the University of Kentucky’s Nutrition Education Program through the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service. The program: Eating Healthy for Everybody was offered and one of the lessons taught was Know the Limits for Everybody. The lesson informed the class of the reasons why saturated fats, salt, and sugar (SOFAS) should be limited in our diet. The SNAP- Education Assistant discussed with the women in the group about sugar sweetened beverages, and how they increase calories, how sugar turns into fat and the increase in chronic diseases from drinking too many sugar sweetened beverages. The SNAP-Education Assistant made a carbonated beverage made with seltzer water and 100 fruit juice for the class to drink.

Nine women completed the program and the data showed that 44% of the participants were drinking less sugary drinks and the calorie intake from 

(SOFAS) decreased from 342.5 calories to 221.2 calories for a 67% positive change. One woman told the SNAP-Education Assistant that she was a heavy soda drinker before the classes and was diagnosed with type two diabetes two months before the end of the program. Since then, she has eliminated all sugary drinks, and has lost over ten pounds.