I'm the first person to admit that I fall victim to cravings for soda. I love Coca-Cola... I really do. I know I need to stop, and I promise I'm trying to. I go through stages when I do really well, and I definitely drink considerably less than I used to, but it has been so hard to really kick my soda habit for good.
As much as we hate to acknowledge it, sugar is an addiction. It is as much of an addiction as tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. As a society, we are addicted to sugar, and we will take it in any form we can get our hands on, whether it's candy, cookies, soft drinks, snow-cones, whatever. Like other addictions, though, an addiction to sugar and specifically sugary drinks can be incredibly harmful to our bodies.
Did you know, according to Medical Daily, that the average American consumes an average of 57 gallons of soda each year? That could fill up an average-sized bathtub. Think about the amount of work your body has to go through to filter out all of that soda.
The most obvious problem caused by sodas is weight gain, which can lead to obesity. Obesity affects our world dramatically these days, as The American Journal of Public Health reports that over 1.5 billion worldwide are overweight or obese. Obesity leads to overall unhealthiness and hinders our ability to live a productive life.
Soda causes your insulin levels to spike, which leads to the sugar being stored as fat, particularly in the belly area, which can be detrimental to our vital organs. Malia Frey, health and weight loss expert, suggests that the best way to lose weight is by kicking your daily soda habit. By cutting out one soda per day, you will reduce your annual caloric intake by over 200,000 calories each year, which could allow you to lose that stubborn fat you've been wanting to get rid of.
Sodas don’t just cause weight gain, though, they can also become the source of numerous other health issues. A significant one of these is heart problems. A 2012 study conducted by Harvard University concluded that daily soft drink consumption increases a person's risk of Chronic Heart Disease by up to 20%. In addition to this, soda consumption has been found to increase overall blood pressure.
Sodas also negatively affect our kidneys and liver. Sodas contain high levels of phosphoric acid, which can cause kidney stones, as well as increase your risk for kidney and liver failure, according to Medical Daily. I personally have experienced this side effect from drinking too much soda, as I often find my kidneys aching when I get back into my heavy soda drinking phases. When I stop drinking them, however, my kidney pain subsides.
In addition to weight gain, heart problems, and kidney/liver concerns, too much soda consumption is also linked to the increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes by up to 80 percent, which Medical Daily says can be prevented simply by eating and drinking healthier.
Numerous other problems can occur from the over consumption of soda such as ulcers, tooth enamel decay, cavities, asthma flare ups, eczema, osteoporosis— the list truly goes on and on. So we must ask ourselves, is drinking sodas really worth it?
The truth is, we need to take care of our bodies so we can live a happy and healthy life. Soft drinks may taste good, but that taste is only temporary. The health problems they impose, however, are often permanent.
I'm not telling you to never drink another soda again for the rest of your life, but it is crucial for us to remember to consume them in moderation and with regard to our health. I struggle with it too, but we should try to exercise self-control and choose healthier options for our bodies on a regular basis. When soda becomes a part of our daily lifestyle, we are putting our bodies in jeopardy.
