Tip of the Day- It's No Soda Day!

by Alison Palmer | More from this Blogger

31 Jan 2007 11:49 AM

As I've mentioned before, I'm not a big soda drinker. I'll occasionally sip a soda when I'm out to dinner, but mostly I find the little bubbles annoying and the syrup too sweet. So, this one isn't really as big of a problem for me as some things are.

But here's the low down on soft drinks. In the year 2000, 15 billion gallons of soda pop were sold in the United States. This averages out to a 12 ounce serving every day for every man woman and child. Yikes! Take a mental inventory. Do you know how much soda pop you, and every member of your family, drank yesterday?

Why is soda such a problem? Well, the answer isn't just one problem, it's multiple.

Let's start with caffeine and corn syrup. These two common ingredients promote hunger, thirst and an "addiction" or need to increase our intake of whatever substance it's found in. The pull from caffeine is so strong that many of us have experienced the headache, increased blood pressure and irritability of missing that soda or cup of coffee. For some, the reaction is just as strong to corn syrup.

Next, comes sugar: a sweetly disguised nasty white substance that we just can't seem to get enough of. I know it's high on my list of priorities each day. Unfortunately, my waistline suffers because of it. Sugar also increases our risks for diabetes and tooth decay.

Replace that sugar with a substitute and increase your risk for kidney stones and unhealthier "allergy" type symptoms.

Another ingredient in soda pop is phosphoric acid; it steals your body's supply of calcium and increases your risk for osteoporosis.

Say your favorite soda pop is trying to be healthier by adding vitamin C. Well, cola companies keep getting in trouble for doing this because when you introduce most common forms of vitamin C into the preservatives of soda pop you can end up with a carcinogen (a chemical known to cause cancer).

Sugar, obesity, tooth decay, allergies, addictions, cancer and osteoporosis, enough said.

Take a day off, just one day, from sodas. Choose a different beverage. It might be a good day to taste test a new fruit juice, drink some chocolate milk, or try a smoothie, or drink more good old-fashioned water.

If you think you want to break it off completely with your favorite soda, don't sign the divorce papers just yet. Set yourself some reasonable goals and give plenty of time to reach them in. If you go cold turkey- warn your family- see that reference to headaches and irritability.

Even if it's just for today, for better health, have a no soda day.

Related Articles:

Are You Addicted To Soda Pop?

Three Fun Things to do With Soda Pop (besides drink it)

Tip of the Day- Drink an Extra Glass of Water

Just What The Doctor Ordered

Learn more about Alison Palmer

Writing is Alison's favorite past time, but you can also frequently find her reading, playing piano, cooking, taking long walks, sewing, or playing with her family.

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Tristi Pinkston (10839) 31 Jan 2007 06:52 PM

Not to mention charlie horses! I used to get them every single night until I stopped drinking soda. Now I only have one once in a while, but I can feel when I've had too much.

POP (10) 01 Feb 2007 02:16 PM

I'm with you.... An experiment in a college class pretty well cured me from the habit. The instructor put a piece of raw steak in a glass of soda... we got to see what it did to the meat the next class period.... the message was simple...the same thing happens to your stomach...