www.mylifestylefitness.com

As America shifts toward becoming a more health conscious society, we have begun to hear more about the problems associated with drinking soda, but what exactly are they? What are we doing to our bodies when we choose soda for a quick pick-me-up?

The large amount of Phosphoric acid in soda interferes with the bodies’ ability to use calcium, which may lead to the softening of teeth and bones and can cause osteoporosis. This is a major problem especially for children, as they need calcium while they grow. Phosphoric acid also interferes with our bodies’ digestion because it neutralized the hydrochloric acid in our stomach that is needed to digest important nutrients from our food.

It is not a secret that obesity is a major problem in the United States, with soda playing a major role in this epidemic. In one can of soda alone, there are about 9-10 teaspoons of sugar. Sugar is one of the leading causes of obesity and causes high insulin levels, which can lead to weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

What about substituting soda with a diet soda? Diet sodas use sugar substitutes, which have a whole other set of problems. Aspartame, an artificial sweetener found in most diet sodas, has been reported to cause fatigue, dizziness, headaches, heart palpitations, and many other health problems. Just because something is “sugar-free”, doesn’t make it “risk-free”.

Many people choose soda for a quick caffeine fix, but consumption of caffeinated drinks can cause increased heart rate, raised blood pressure, vitamin and mineral depletion, birth defects, and it may even increase your chances of getting cancer. Caffeinated beverages also dehydrate the body and therefore need to be offset with large quantities of water.

Next time you reach into your fridge for something to drink, try choosing water instead of soda. It may be a hard habit to break but it will be of great benefit to you.

By: Kayla Clark

Comments (0)