10 Reasons Why We Should Avoid Drinking Soda

Soda, or soft drinks as we commonly call it, is a multi-billion dollar industry in terms of worldwide sales. In fact, many people around the world admitted drinking soda more than water every day.

While millions of people still consume soda on a daily basis, it has actually gone down as compared to the 90’s and early 2000’s, according to a Gallup poll. If you may remember, it was during that time when various soda brands have gone full-blast on their global campaigns and even endorsed by famous celebrities around the world.

Still, many people drink soda as part of their daily life. Although we already know how bad drinking softdrinks is, there are times where we can’t able to resist drinking a refreshing, straight-from-the-chiller soda on a sweltering afternoon.

Nevertheless, it is not an excuse not to avoid sodas altogether. For one, an updated 2013 presentation of the American Heart Association reported that frequent consumption of sugary drinks, sodas included, can lead to close than 185,000 adult deaths worldwide every year.

Aside from that, here are other reasons why we should avoid drinking soda (“sugar-free” or “diet” sodas included):

1. The unbelievable amount of sugar in itAccording to an article posted on WellnessMama.com, “a single can of soda contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar.” 10 teaspoons of sugar in your coffee may be too much for you, so you can just imagine how much your sugar intake you can consume in a can of your favorite soda. Worse, too much sugar intake can lead to diabetes or insulin resistance, as well as weight gain.

2. Drinking “diet” or “sugar-free” sodas are no different from regular sodasSoda companies often market their “diet” sodas as a healthier option for those who find regular sodas too sweet. A word of advice: don’t believe them. In fact, these so-called “sugar-free” sodas can actually be worse on your health than you think. Aspartame, an alternative to sugar, has been linked to various health issues such as brain tumors, diabetes, seizures, and emotional disorders, to name a few. In addition, diet sodas can also trigger metabolic syndrome that causes high levels of blood sugar and cholesterol.

3. Sodas basically lack of essential nutrients your body needTo make it short, there is no nutritional value in soda at all. Plus, most sodas contain phosphoric acid which hinders the body from absorbing calcium and magnesium that can lead to bone problems such as osteoporosis, cavities, and premature bone brittleness.

4. Soda bottles and cans don’t help the environment, eitherMost sodas are contained in bottles, which contains bisphenol A (BPA), a type of toxic chemical that is common in plastics, and then leach into its contents – in this case, sodas – and into your body when you consume its contents. BPA is linked to some health issues including immune system depression. Plus, plastics only degrade after at least a hundred years.

5. Drinking soda can actually make you feel thirstierJust when you think it’s so refreshing to drink an ice-cold softdrink after a sweaty day, sure it is, but not when you read this. Too much soda consumption can eventually lead to dehydration due to its high sugar, sodium, and caffeine contents. That is why you can feel thirstier (and even bloated) after you have drank a can of soda.

6. Soda can damage your teethRegular soda consumption can lead to plaque and acid build-up that can lead to oral health problems, including cavities, enamel damage, and tooth decay.

7. The caramel coloring in soda can lead to cancer and vascular problemsThe coloring that gives that popular cola’s distinct caramel-ish brown color is not actually made from caramelized sugar. Instead, it involves a chemical process wherein sugars with ammonia and sulfites are made in high temperatures. The chemicals formed during the process are said to be linked to cancer and vascular problems.

8. Drinking sodas can increase obesity rates in childrenFor every additional sugary drinks consumed, it increases the risk of obesity among children by around 60 percent. Of course, adults are not safe from the risk of too much consumption of sodas, either.

9. Many soda brands use questionable water sourcesAccording to WellnessMama.com, “water used in soda is just simple tap water and can contain chemicals like chlorine, fluoride, and traces of heavy metals.”

10. There are many healthier and safer alternatives for sodaThere are a lot of healthier options you can consume instead of sodas, such as fruit-infused water and even simple ice-cold water – both best enjoyed cold, minus the guilt, calories, and future health issues!

Image credit: [Ashley Kirk on Unsplash]