The topic of soda (or pop, depending on where you are from) is no longer controversial, and for you ladies who have been long time soda drinkers, I beg you to reconsider your soda habits.??
One 12-ounce can of regular soda contains on average between 8 and 10 teaspoons of sugar, far exceeding 100% of your recommended daily sugar allotment of 6 teaspoons (25 grams). One single can of soda daily can add as many as 15 lbs of excess weight to your waistline in just ONE YEAR!
For my diet-soda drinking girlfriends, you are not off the hook. Artificially sweetened beverages (including diet soda) may actually double your risk of obesity and have some not-so-great effects on your digestive system, among other systems in your precious body.
Regardless of whether you drink diet or regular soda, drinking even ONE soda per day increases your risk of diabetes by 85%, increases your cancer risk, and causes DNA damage. It’s definitely not worth it.
This photo from the Renegade Pharmacist is a great visual to showcase the effects that one little can of coke can have on your body. Now imagine the cumulative effects of drinking soda over many days and many years….it’s not a pretty picture.
Image Credit: Pinterest
Instead, it’s best to get back to good old water to hydrate your amazing body. And if you miss the fizz, then try a little bit of sparkling mineral water with a squirt of lemon or lime juice. If the transition from soda to water is just too big for you right now, then take a baby step toward something like Zevia soda, which contains zero calories, zero sugar, no artificial sweeteners and no caramel coloring. That’s definitely a step in the right direction and over time, you can transition away from soda entirely. Your body will truly thank you.
