Soda is everywhere! It's a multi-BILLION dollar industry. Just about everyone knows the harmful effects soda has on our health. Yet, we (myself included... I love diet coke) can't escape it. Go to a restaurant, watch TV, sporting events... it is literally everywhere. I took the time to review the results of including soda in our diet. It's easy to consume 3 or more soda in a week. Some may even consume 3 or more in one day! The effects it may have on our health may have us second guessing our choice of beverage.
Below are some effects from regular soda consumption;
ELEVATED CALORIC CONSUMPTION WHICH CAN LEAD TO WEIGHT GAIN
One can of regular soda can add 150 calories to your daily intake. Those are not nutrient dense calories either! This can add up to several pounds of body fat stored on your body each year! Think drinking diet versions of your favourite soda will save the calories? The artificial sweeteners can range from 400-8000 times sweeter than regular sugar! The chemicals in the artificial sweetener cause the muscles in our stomach to relax which allows more food to be consumed which cause a hormone release. This causes our satiety sensors to be deceived which will then trigger the urge to consume more high calorie foods. Combine a diet soda with your meal and you can easily consume more calories through your meal than expected.
Diet soda is calorie free, but because the artificial sweeteners cause an insulin release in the stomach, it actually prevents weight loss! Insulin is the body's primary hormone for stimulating fat storage. By ingesting chemicals found in artificial sweeteners, it will create a chemical reaction stimulating the body's release of insulin and thus extra body fat storage.
TAXES YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM AND OTHER BODILY PROCESSES
Soda is acidic in nature. This acid can affect tooth enamel, increase acid reflux and wreak havoc on your digestive system. In fact research has found artificial sweeteners in diet soda adversely affect the bacteria in our digestive system. This affects blood glucose levels and body weight. This, in turn will affect our immune system and the body's ability to protect against infectious disease! Because soda is highly processed and contains chemicals our bodies can't readily process, it can cause our cell receptors to be burnt out and tax the immune system. Don't even get me started on the effects of artificial sweeteners and their affect on the immune system and the research linked to various cancers!
Further, the caramel colour found in colas contains an artificially created phosphorous. Because it is a synthetic chemical rather than natural, the body cant process it efficiently. This chemical can cause calcium to leach out of the bones. It has also been found to be toxic for those with kidney disease! The caffeine and sugar in soda can elevate blood pressure. Many of us know the effects caffeine can have on our blood pressure and nervous system. However, many are unaware that sugar, much like sodium (salt) will also elevate blood pressure causing a host of medical issues including heart disease, blurred vision, headaches, hypoglycemia etc.
LACK OF ENERGY AND DEHYDRATION
Soda contains caffeine. Caffeine is a diuretic which can lead to dehydration. Caffeine in soda can also over stimulate the nervous system which will affect the natural energy levels in our bodies, The caffeine and sugars found in soda lead to highs and lows in our energy production.
There is a lot of research on how soda affects the mental alertness and behavior in children. It seems soda is a daily part of our lives and will not be going away anytime soon. By being conscientious of our soda intake, we can dramatically increase our weight loss, increase our energy, improve our immune system, digestive system and ability to increase our cognitive functions!