Are you a soda drinker? Or as we call it in the North “pop”.
As refreshing as they seem, soda is a danger to your body, and eliminating it could jumpstart your health dramatically.
Let’s talk about why this is one habit that is worth breaking!
What that can of soda really is.
It’s pretty much sugar in a can. 10 or more teaspoons! As soon as you drink that sugary soda, your pancreas goes into action. It needs to produce and release insulin. When you drink soda, pop, or a soft drink it instantly raises your insulin levels. When that happens it can lead to a weakened immune system which makes it harder to fight off disease.
Sugar leads to fat.
With all that extra sugar in your system from the soda, it ends up becoming stored body fat. When you have too much stored fat it raises your risk for heart disease and cancer, and extra pounds are harder to lose.
Don’t buy into the diet or sugar-free soda lie
Chemicals in a can. Yes, that’s what you’re getting when you think diet or sugar-free is a better option. A can full of chemicals and artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, and saccharine. They are carcinogenic, and can really be a dangerous threat to your health. They also lead to over a 30% increase in belly fat. So hormones aren’t always to blame for that extra roll around the tummy. Sugar is usually the cause.
Calcium depleting.
The carbonation in sodas contains an acid that can deplete your blood calcium levels. So in a nutshell, drinking sodas increase your risk of osteoporosis. Bone loss can be debilitating and life-altering. We gradually lose bone every year as we age. You can put things in your favor by doing resistant weight training, and having a healthy diet filled with more vegetables and fruits. Don’t let a can of soda sabotage your bones!
More bone loss contributes to stress and insomnia. If you’re a soda drinker, you may be experiencing poor quality sleep also. Sleep is crucial for your brain and overall health and a better quality of life.
Drink this instead.
Water. Ice cold, room temperature, fruit-infused, etc. Drink it every day. Whatever your weight is, divide that in half and that’s how many ounces you should aim for. Start your day with water and sip throughout the day and the ounces will add up.
Tea. I’m a big tea drinker, and green tea is my favorite. Hot, cold, or iced, it’s all good! A little raw honey added aids in fighting inflammation which is so important. Black tea and herb teas are great choices also. They have their own unique health benefits as well. Tea also counts towards your water goal!
Sometimes habits are hard to break, but you can do it. Toss that can of soda and replace it with tea or water and get your health back. You will be surprised at how much better you will feel, your sleep will be deeper and those extra pounds just might disappear.
Make yourself a goal, and stick with it. Cut back slowly or go cold turkey if you want to get healthier fast! Your path to better health will be so impacted just by breaking the soda habit.
Don’t buy into marketing lies that want to make you believe there are healthy soda options. There aren’t. Read the labels and see for yourself. Your health is your own. You get to decide what you eat or drink. Make good choices, get rid of bad ones, and be the best you, you can be!
Until next time,
~pat
