The Scary Truth About Soda
For many past participants on X-Weighted, drinking soda was a major cause of their weight gain (remember Jamila from season 2? She'd even add sugar to her Cola for an extra sugar kick!). You probably already know that soda is empty calories and therefore a big no-no when trying to lose weight, but did you know that soda has some other scary affects on our bodies?
Nothing to Smile About
Sugary drinks taste so good that it can be hard to turn them down, but every time you take a sip, you are effectively sloshing your teeth with acid that erodes their enamel. If you want to give yourself a liittle demo of how acidic your favourite soft drinks are, try dropping a penny into a glass and seeing the affect the soda has - then imagine that happening to your teeth for however long you take to drink a can of pop.
An Insult to Insulin
Some studies have suggested that drinking a lot of soda can put you at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Everytime we consume sugar, the pancreas releases insulin to process that sugar. If we drink a lot of soda, there is a constant need for the pancreas to keep producing insulin and ultimately it cannot keep up with demand. When this happens, we develop type 2 diabetes.
No Bones About it
There have been various studies that suggest that women who drink a lot of sodas (in particular colas) are more likely to suffer from osteoporosis, which leads to bone loss and breakage. There are many different theories as to why this happens, but it could be because certain chemicals that are used in colas interfere with our bodies ability to use calcium and therefore build bone mass.
But Surely Diet Soda is Okay?
Afraid not. Although of course there are a lot less calories in diet sodas, research suggests that when we drink them our bodies are tricked into thinking that they're about to get a hit of sugar and so when it doesn't come, we crave that hit. The craving makes us eat more in order to satisfy ourselves.
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Giving up pop was the best thing I ever did!
I gave up pop and I used to drink it all the time!! I didn't drink anything but pop actually. I went through a tough few days of withdrawal but looking back now it was so worth it. I drink water now and the odd time I'll have a glass of chocolate milk as a treat. If water's boring try slicing up a lemon or lime and adding it to your water bottle. Also, my fav. is adding cucumber to my water. Try some carbonated water if you still need that "fizzy" taste. Everyone who knows me said they never thought I would ever give up my Coke. Sometimes it just takes the right person to tell you that it has to go...that's how it happened for me. Trust me...if I can give up the pop ANYONE can!!
Didn't really think about the
Didn't really think about the sugary flavor of diet pop triggering a desire for the real thing. Makes sense to me - time to make a change since every now and then I get such a craving for sweets that I give in although I work hard to keep it under control. Will be interesting to see if dropping the diet pop will make a difference. Thanks!
pop
More people need to know how bad pop's are for us. I am very fortunate that my 19 yr old daughter doesn't really like pop that much so we don't usually have it in the house.
I knew about the regular
I knew about the regular soda, but had no idea about the diet soda, I had convinced myself that it was an okay choice. Very thankful I read this article. My kids don't like pop either, however my husband keeps it in the house for himself, so hopefully knowing this will ensure I keep my paws off his diet soda. :)
Aspartame trigger ~~ Migraines
About fifteen years ago I discovered that aspartame was one of my triggers for migraine headaches. Also, something in salt and vinegar chips and surprisingly decaf coffee!! I drank the occasional soft drink but nothing with aspartame from that point on.
When I wanted a soft drink, I mixed soda water with regular Coke to cut down on the sugar. I started out with about 2/3 Coke and 1/3 soda. I now cannot drink a regular soda or iced tea without adding soda. I rarely indulge, but I mix it about 1/2 and 1/2 now and I couldn't drink a regular soft drink to save my soul!
It is surprisingly easy to adapt to and I have used it for other things. If I want a treat of kettle corn, I add 1/2 plain popcorn to it. If I want Ranch dressing on a salad, I add 1 tsp of it to 1 Tbsp of salsa. If I make a recipe for a cream sauce, I use 1/2 1% or 2% milk and 1/2 fat free chicken stock. It is a really simple process to learn how to do this. Give it a try!!
Interesting mixtures
I mix different fat level yogurts and soy milks to get a little extrra zip. I use milk instead of butter on potatoes and do not find much of a difference.
I know All about it!
There are so many people in my family who have been handed big diagnoses that all drink pop like its water! My grandma has osteoporosis, my cousin is only twenty six and has the beginning signs of diabetes, I had some warning signs in high school until I cut out pop! I gave it up cold turkey a while ago. It's just not worth it to me!
Interesting replacements
I cut out the pop too. When you cut something out totally, it seems that something interesting has to take its place. What did you do?
gave it up
The best thing I ever did was switch from diet pop to water. Water quenches your thirst, flushes your body, and it's cheap.
I used to think diet pop was better than sugary pop, but then I started thinking about the chemicals in it. So, now I have my trusty water bottle - and I refill it from my tap, too.
Water safety and quality is a whole other issue.
Do you miss it?
Do you ever mix anything with your water to add extra flavour from time to time? We are not supposed to have juice but sometimes it is good to mix it with something to minimize the calories.
Things to add to water
Try cutting up a lemon, lime or even better yet is sliced cucumber and add it to your water! YUM!!!
The Fizz
I had to give up pop when I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. I can still get the fizz with sparkling water and limited juice. There are times that I would like to have the really good fizz from a fresh coke.