Drinking regular soda is a vice many Americans have a difficult time giving up. People drink it for many different reasons. Some might have a Coke in the morning for the caffeine instead of a cup of coffee. Some people might enjoy the sweet fizziness in their mouth and some people might drink it because they don’t like plain water.
There are a variety of beverages to choose from if plain water is not your thing. Teas, juices, flavored waters, and even water, served at a temperature to your liking, might make it more palatable to you.
Regardless, there are a number of reasons why soda is not a good beverage of choice and one we should all wean ourselves off, if we haven’t already. Below are some reasons you may not have known about.
Pancreatic Cancer
As we all know, soda is high in sugar. The large amount of sugar increases the amount of insulin our pancreas must secrete in order to balance the sugar. This additional work we are putting on our pancreas might start the development of cancer cells in the pancreas. Indeed, in a study conducted at the University of Minnesota, they found that people who drank at least 2 regular sodas a week had nearly double the risk of developing pancreatic cancer than those who did not.
A spokesman for the American Beverage Association countered the claim by saying that the study did not account for any other factor in the patients’ lives, such as gender, diet, exposure to chemicals, or any other risk factors.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup
There is the on-going debate about whether high-fructose corn syrup is bad for the body or not. It is true that HFCS and glucose are metabolized differently in the body and studies have shown the HFCS, over time, has effectively blocked leptin, which is your brain’s signal telling you that you are full, so in essence, you just keep eating and eating. Only further studies will reveal whether or not consumption of HFCS is bad for the body. Over-consumption of anything, of course, is definitely not recommended.
Acidity
The acidity of soda is at pH2.5. At this level, it does appear to impair the digestive system, which can then lead to heartburn. The acid from the soda can also dissolve the enamel of your teeth, which is irreplaceable, and kidney stones and osteoporosis are likely because the body must draw calcium from the bones in order to balance the acidity. This leaching of calcium weakens the bones, and as the calcium is eliminated from the body through the urine, it passes through the kidneys, possibly forming stones. Also, because of the added strain on the kidneys, studies show that people who drink 2 or more sodas per day were 2 times more likely to be at risk for chronic kidney disease.
Your Liver
Here’s a shocker for you: Drinking too many sodas can damage your liver just as drinking too much alcohol will. It is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and it is a scarring of the liver which can eventually lead to cirrhosis. The culprit, most studies suggest, is high fructose corn syrup, found in sodas and processed foods. The only “fix” then, is to tell the patient to go back to a more basic, natural diet and to try to avoid foods and beverages with HFCS in them. If the fatty liver disease is not reversed and cirrhosis occurs, liver failure, liver cancer, and eventually liver transplant can all occur.
Gout
Usually known for being caused by a diet of rich foods, soda has now been linked to gout. Once again, the culprit is HFCS. Studies have shown that fructose elevates uric acid levels in the body, which is essentially what gout thrives on – high uric acid levels.
Hopefully, the above reasons have given you pause to reconsider that soda for a more healthy beverage. In life, we have so many choices we can make, and although this one seems like such an easy one, it can take a few weeks to cleanse your palate of that overly-sweet soda taste. In the long run, though, you will be glad you made the choice to forgo that soda!
Sources
"8 Reasons Why People Drink Soda & 16 Reasons To Give Up Soda Drinking." EMed Expert Online.
Anderson, Allen. "Studies: Consuming Soda Daily is Clearly a Health Hazard." San Angelo Standard-Times. 31 Aug 2011. Web. 26 Oct 2011.
Huget, Jennifer LaRue. "Study: Soda Drinkers at Increased Risk of Pancreatic Cancer." Washington Post Online. 8 Feb 2010. Web. 26 Oct 2011.
McCoy, Krisha. "Does Soda Cause Gout?" Everyday Health Online. 25 April 2011. Web. 26 Oct 2011.
Shelly Lange - Shelly Lange enjoys writing, reading, and learning about a variety of topics. She is a wife and mother, and as if that didn't keep her ...
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