Tag Archives: health risks of soda
Reasons to Stop Drinking Soda – Part 1
As I sit here sipping a Black Cherry Wishniak soda from Stewarts, I feel a moment of guilt. This glass bottle of goodness sure is tasty but, in my heart of hearts, I know I shouldn’t be drinking it. While I have made incredible strides in my quest to cut caffeine and soda from my diet, I haven’t yet won the battle. I happened to be sorting through some old work and happened to come across an article I wrote about a year ago about the reasons one should eliminate soda from his or her diet. Perhaps they’ll motivate you as well.
Some people love a huge cup of coffee in the morning – others drink soda instead. Soda, unfortunately, is incredibly detrimental to your body and overall health. It can damage your bones and destroy your stomach, leaving you with a number of side effects that will leave you ruing the day you had your last glass. Most people don’t realize just how bad soda can be. Here are a few things to consider.
Soda is Definitely Addictive
Do you drink soda every single day? If so, try to go a day without it. You’ll probably feel tired, lethargic, headachy, and – if you’re particularly unlucky – anxious. The caffeine content is what makes it addictive and – yes- caffeine is very strong. Don’t try to quit cold-turkey if you consume a lot of soda daily. Wean yourself off to help avoid headaches and other complications.
Soda Consumption Leads to Dehydration
There are two main reasons for soda causing dehydration. First, the caffeine in your soda will act as a diuretic, leading you to use the bathroom more often. Second, soda contains sodium (aka salt), which will make you feel thirstier. Most people, when thirsty, will grab a second glass of soda instead of a glass of water, making the process even worse. Soda cannot replace water in terms of hydration. As a matter of fact, for each glass you drink, you need to ADD that much extra water to your daily intake.
Soda will Weaken Your Bones
You read that right. Caffeine and phosphoric acid, both major ingredients in soda, can leech calcium from your bones. Because caffeine causes you to urinate more frequently, your body won’t have as much time to process nutrients from your food before you eliminate it. Eventually, excess soda consumption may lead to the development of diseases caused by malnutrition, arthritis, osteoporosis, and other bone-weakening diseases.
Still not convinced? Check back next week for 4 more reasons you need to cut soda from your diet. Trust me. It’s worth the effort.
