It is common knowledge that soda is not good for you. However, many still drink it. Here are some surprising reasons why you may want to put down that soda can.
Speed up aging. Soda contains phosphates (phosphoric acid) which give them their flavor and long shelf life. While phosphates exist naturally in some whole foods, too much phosphoric acid can lead to heart and kidney problems, muscle loss and osteoporosis. Also, a study published in the FASEB journal found that the high phosphate levels in soda caused lab rats to die 5 weeks earlier than rats that had normal phosphate levels. This is troubling because soda manufacturers have been increasing their phosphate levels over the past few decades.
Toxic cans. Not only does soda itself cause problems, so do the cans! Almost all aluminum soda cans are lined with bisphenol A (BPA). This is used to keep the acids that are in soda from reacting with the metal from the can. BPA is known to interfere with hormones and cause infertility, obesity, reproductive cancers, plus much more. The Centers for Disease Control has labeled soda cans as a major source of BPA.
Tooth decay. The acid in soda erodes tooth enamel and causes tooth decay.
Cravings. Aspartame, found in diet sodas, is known to increase carbohydrate cravings and promote weight gain. Also, aspartame leads to an increase in cravings for sugar or sweets.
Adverse effects. Sodas adversely interact with antacids which can lead to nausea, headaches, constipation and kidney damage.
Water pollution. Artificial sweeteners that are used in diet sodas do not break down in our bodies or water treatment plants. This means that these chemicals are entering into waterways and interfering with nature.
Thirst. If you are thirsty, a soda will not do the trick. It may actually leaving you thirstier than you were before.
Source:
"30 HEALTH REASONS NOT TO DRINK SODA OR DIET SODA." Creating Extraordinary Lives. Hccua. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://www.hccua.org/health/healthandwellness.cfm?id=311>.
Enjoying a variety of foods is the best way to get all the important nutrients needed for keeping healthy. Beware of fad diets that exclude entire food groups. This can cause nutritional deficiencies.
ReplyDeleteGood information, and if more people knew about the pernicious effects of soda, it would stop them in their tracks. Sodas, especially Coke, contain large amounts of sodium, which have to covered up with sugars, which lead to increased caloric intake as well as spikes in insulin production. Not only do we become fatter, but cancers are mutating to feed off the excess insulin, as many doctors and researchers are finding. Soda is making is fat, and killing us.
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