At a grocery store, do you go for the two liters or head straight for the water? I'm guilty of the former. I constantly search for that caffeinated-whatever when I know the better choice is clear. However, the more I dig, the more surprised I am about how bad that decision may be for me. In fact, I never knew how bad simply not picking water was for me. Maybe you’re like me, and you’ve never realized, so I’d like to share with you seven reasons why you need water over soda.
1. The simple truth: Water has less calories than soda.
Water has zero calories, which comes as no surprise to me. However, when you put this up against the around 150 calories in a single can of soda, that seems like a pretty big deal. I never realized just how many calories soda really had in it. And what I really learned was, switching from soda to water, can cause you to lose a pound a week.
2. Soda can harm your teeth.
In soda, there is sugar and acid that does damage on your weight. However, another big damage is the damage it can do to your teeth. Soda will cause cavities and even teeth decay. Not to mention the bacteria that can live in your mouth and cause illness.
3. Too much soda dehydrates you.
Although it is in liquid form, soda doesn't help hydration at all. Not only that, however, soda actually makes the dehydration worse. Caffeine is the root cause of this, and it can be addicting, causing the problem to worsen.
4. Water can help you feel full.
Drinking water before, during and even after a meal can help a person feel more full quicker and stay full longer. This is a trick my mother told me about a few months ago. By switching from soda, water not only has less calories in itself, it can also make you eat less. This will help in losing weight.
5. Water makes your body release toxins.
Water cause your body to release toxins in more ways than one. This can be through sweating or even, yes, going to the bathroom. It might be a bit inconvenient to take more frequent bathroom breaks, but it's absolutely worth it. Alternatively, soda adds toxins to your body without much release of any.
6. Switching from water to soda can help your skin.
With all of the harmful substances in soda, it can cause you to breakout more, the physical proof of harmful toxins. As someone who struggles with acne, I really count this as one of the major cons. Water can cleanse your skin, helping clear acne.
7. Your brain will function better.
Sodas, especially diet sodas, can have adverse effects on your brain and memory. Alternatively, water has been proven to improve brain activity and aid with memory. It can also help prevent deficit disorders in both children and adults.
All of this can be "soda-pressing" for those of us with a habit of going for the sweet stuff. However, the first steps don't have to be cold turkey. Simply add more water to your regular diet, and then begin to replace soda servings with water slowly. It may seem difficult, but you're not alone. We're in this together.
