Why you should stop drinking (diet) sodas now!

I always nag my friends about sodas. I ditched them long ago and I drink sodas on special occasion only. 
I know people who drink 2 to 3 soda cans a day, which is completely unhealthy and dangerous. And because they get the diet soda, they think they are “safe”. 
Although my blog is mainly about beauty, I believe that beauty comes from our daily habits, including our nutrition. Sodas should not be part of our lifestyle and has to remain exceptional. 
Here is why:

• Regular sodas is loaded with sugar – the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of table sugar.
  Would you eat 10 teaspoons of sugar? Over the time, your body can become resistant to insulin, an hormone that regulate our blood sugar. The regular consumption of sodas or any sugar-sweetened beverage raises the risk of developing type-2 diabetes by 22%.
• Soda contains phosphoric acid that prevent the body from absorbing calcium, which helps strengthen our bones. The lack of calcium leads to osteoporosis and low bone mineral density. If your bones are not strong enough, your whole body won’t be.  
• Phosphoric acid is also responsible for slowing digestion and blocking the absorption of the nutrients we get from food. This is why people suffering from stomach acid cannot drink sodas…
• It causes gain weight and obesity. Sodas have no nutritional value except sugar. They are “empty calories”. Our body won’t get any benefits and the excess of sugar gets converted into FAT!
• Remember the dentist telling you to moderate your sugar consumption to keep beautiful teeth. Sodas causes plaque to build up, leading to cavities and gum disease. Beside, the acidic pH (caused by citric acid) of sodas detroys the tooth enamel over time. 
  A study published in the General Dentistry journal found found that cocaine-user, methamphetamine-user and soda drinker had the same level of tooth erosion.
• Soda containers are just as toxic. Soda cans are lined with an epoxy resin called bisphenol A (BPA), used to keep the acids in soda from reacting with the metal. If you have heard of the scandal BPA caused, you know this substance interferes with hormones, and has been linked to infertility, obesity and even some forms of reproductive cancers.

But diet sodas are not any better, and they are probably even worse. To the above risks, you should add these:

• The University of Texas announced results in 2011 from a 10-year study. It said that a diet soda a day was correlated to a waistline increase of 70% and two sodas a day was linked to…a 500% waistline increase!
• The aspartame used as a substitute for sugar has been linked to almost a hundred different health problems including seizures, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, diabetes, and emotional disorders. It converts to methanol at warm temperatures and methanol breaks down to formaldehyde and formic acid. FYI, formaldehyde is also known to cause cancer in high dose. No need to say more…
• Diet soda is also bad for your kidneys. An 11-year Harvard Medical School study of more than 3,000 women showed kidney function started declining when women drank more than two sodas a day
• In most nightclubs, people orders 7’up diet or diet Pepsi to mix their vodka. However, you must know that sugar-free drinks allow liquor to enter your bloodstream faster and get you drunk more easily.
• It increases the risk of type-2 diabetes: one diet soda a day is associated with a 36% increased risk of metabolic syndrome according to a study from the University of Minnesota. Metabolic syndrome includes high blood pressure, elevated glucose level leading to diabetes, raised cholesterol and a larger waist circumference. This could also lead to a higher risk of heart diseases and stroke.

Still tempted to get that soda for lunch?

Although the best thing to do would be to cut sodas out from your lifestyle, I understand that it may be too radical on the short term. I just want you to think twice next time your order that Pepsi or Diet 7’up and let this remains a very occasional drink. 
If you crave fizziness, get sparkling water. You can also infuse your water with fruits like lemons to give it some natural flavor. 

Bottom line is, if you are a regular consumer of soda try to decrease your consumption as much as you can.