Most of us drink soda. Some drink more than others. And probably many regular soda drinkers are aware that soft drinks are bad for the health.As soon as soda’s swallowed, the pancreas is notified and rapidly begins to create insulin in response to the sugar. Insulin is a hormone the body uses to move sugar from food or drink into the bloodstream, where cells are then able to use sugar for energy.Within just 20 minutes, blood sugar levels spike and the liver responds to the insulin by turning sugar into fat for storage.Within 45 minutes of gulping down a single 20-ounce glass of soda, caffeine from the drink is fully absorbed, and as a result your pupils dilate and blood pressure rises. The body produces more dopamine, which stimulates the pleasure centers of the brain just like a low-grade line of cocaine.
Reasons to Avoid Drinking Soda
Sugar
A single can of soda contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar. This amount of sugar, especially in liquid form, skyrockets the blood sugar and causes an insulin reaction in the body.
Phosphoric Acid
Soda contains phosphoric acid, which interferes with the body’s ability to absorb calcium and can lead to osteoporosis, cavities and bone softening. Phosphoric Acid also interacts with stomach acid, slowing digestion and blocking nutrient absorption.
Caffeine
Most sodas contain caffeine, which has been linked to certain cancers, breast lumps, irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, and other problems.
Water
The water used in soda is just simple tap water and can contain chemicals like chlorine, fluoride and traces of heavy metals.
Obesity
Harvard researchers have recently positively linked soft drinks to obesity. The study found that 12 year olds who drank soda were more likely to be obese than those who didn’t, and for each serving of soda consumed daily, the risk of obesity increased 1.6 times.
Fructose
Sodas contain High Fructose Corn Syrup, which obviously comes from corn. Most of this corn has been genetically modified, and there are no long term studies showing the safety of genetically modified crops, as genetic modification of crops has only been around since the 1990s. Also, the process of making High Fructose Corn Syrup involves traces of mercury, which causes a variety of long term health problems.
Dehydration
Because of the high sugar, sodium and caffeine content in soda, it dehydrates the body and over a long period of time can cause chronic dehydration.
Belly fat
The high sugar content of soda has been conclusively linked to an increase in abdominal fat-which is dangerous.
Hydrate your body
Any time you’re drinking soda, you’re not drinking water. “Sodas do nothing but fill your body with empty calories and sugar,” says trainer and Youtube celebrity Mike Chang. “If you are drinking sodas, you are depriving your body of good clean water and increasing the demand on the pancreas, as it produces the insulin-producing cells with a greater challenge.
Kidney stones
Anyone who’s had to pass a kidney stone knows that it’s one of the most painful experiences ever, so perhaps this will serve as good motivation to quit: soda can cause kidney stones, says Pearson.
According to Chang, “the kidneys are put under massive stress, causing mineral imbalances, which can produce kidney stones.
Soda can make you older, faster!
Not only does soda make you fat, but it can affect your beauty in a totally different way: accelerated aging, “due to the high levels of phosphoric acid in sodas,” according to Cohen.
Soda can make you infertile.
Future parents, listen up: a can of soda can actually affect your ability to have children. “Aluminum soda cans are lined with an epoxy resin called BPA, which may interfere with your hormones, effecting infertility,” says David Zulberg,
The truth is sugary drinks are THE most fattening aspect of the modern diet. If you want to lose weight, or avoid gaining it over time, then you should seriously consider removing these drinks from your life.
