Kicking the Soda Drink Habit - Four Reasons Why.

Your Weight
Do you want to lose a few pounds and be healthier? Most of us do. Scientists at Harvard have narrowed in on one of the key reasons for rising obesity in western countries: soda pop. The new study finds that one-third of all carbohydrate calories in the American diet come from added sweeteners, with half of these calories coming from sweetened beverages. They point the finger of blame at the main sweetener used in soft drinks: high fructose corn syrup. It contains more calories than regular refined sugar and some studies suggest it reduces the body’s ability to process calories.

Of course, obesity is a complex issue – one must take into account diet, genetics, eating patterns, and physical activity – but it is not rocket science to figure out that if you were forced to consume an extra can of Coke per day (155 calories), with all other factors held constant, you could pack on at least 10 pounds by the end of the year. Studies have also found a connection between drinking large amounts of soda pop and consuming more calories through food. Either those taking sugared drinks lack the same restraint with food, or sugared drinks cause a rise in insulin that makes individuals hungrier, causing them to eat more.

But there is some good news: if you’re a regular soda pop drinker, and you want to lose some weight and improve your health, banishing soda pop from your diet is an easy way to start down this path. If you cut out two cans of pop per day from your diet (and maintain the same level of physical activity and eat the same number of calories), you can lose 1 pound in 12 days. Not bad at all.

Diabetes (Type 2)
Type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing in developed countries as society becomes increasingly overweight and less active. Public health researchers label it an epidemic and believe much of the blame can be leveled at our enormous consumption of sugar. For example, an eight-year study of 50,000 nurses showed a correlation that suggests drinking one or more sugar-sweetened beverages (such as soft drinks and fruit punches) per day increases one’s risk of developing diabetes by 80% compared to those who drink less than one such drink per month. Interestingly, this finding was independent of other lifestyle factors.

What exactly is type 2 diabetes, you ask. If you have type 2 diabetes, either your body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Your body needs insulin to be able to use glucose for energy. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When the glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into the cells, two bad things happen: your cells are immediately starved for energy and, over time, high blood glucose levels damage your body. Having type 2 diabetes increases your risk for many serious complications, including heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, and kidney damage. Thankfully, watching your diet and getting regular exercise can help you manage this disease.

Your Teeth
As you already know, soda pop contains a high concentration of simple sugars. When you drink pop, the bacteria in your mouth ferment the sugars and produce acid. The problem being that acid dissolves tooth enamel; hence, soda pop is likely to increase your risk of cavities – holes or structural damage in your teeth. Moreover, a large number of soda pop drinks are acidic, with some even having a pH of 3.0 or lower. Sipping on acidic drinks over a long period of time will also erode your tooth enamel. Avoid soda pop and you can reduce your chances of a painful trip to the dentist and a mouthful of fillings.

The Environment
Planet earth needs all the help she can get these days. Perhaps you’re recycling your cans and bottles. That’s great, but you can do more. Millions upon millions of cans and bottles end up in landfills each year. If you’re still buying bottles and cans, you’re contributing to this cycle. Moreover, recycling still taxes the environment. Think about the fuel used to haul the bottles and cans around and the chemicals used during the recycling process itself.

You can do something about this: buy an eco-friendly reusable water container (and use it!). Check out these websites for options: KleanKanteen, MySigg, and EcoWaterBottle.

The other important part – and this will reap benefits for you directly – is to fill your bottle up with low sugar, low calorie beverages. Try good old-fashioned water. If water doesn’t excite you, try herbal tea (hot or iced) or water with lemon. You’ll lose weight; you’ll feel better; and you’ll be helping the environment!